More than 150,000 learners who were registered in schools under the competency-based curriculum did not make it to Grade 9, data released by the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) shows.
The variance represents a transition rate of 88.17 per cent, dealing a blow to the government’s policy of 100 per cent transition at all levels.
Kenya releases first-ever KJSEA results, ushering in new grading model
According to the data, 1,282,150 learners undertook the Kenya Early Years Assessment (Keya) at Grade 3 in 2019.
This number declined to 1,253,577 in the 2022 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment at Grade 6. By the time the learners undertook the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) this year, more learners had dropped out of the system. A total of 1,130,587 sat the inaugural assessment.
No explanation was given for the sharp drop, although some learners may have changed curricula, while others dropped out.
Further, the data shows that while both boys and girls experienced a decline in numbers as they moved from lower primary to junior school, the decline among girls appears slightly sharper in absolute numbers.
Bravin Kololi (70), Jeremy Njagi (69), Anita Wairimu (70) and Rosemary Wakanyi (68) of Roots Academy in Nakuru celebrate with teachers at the institution on December 11, 2025 after the release of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment results.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
In the 2019 Keya, there were 604,522 girls (47.14 per cent) and 677,628 boys (52.8 per cent). By the 2025 KJSEA, the number of girls had dropped to 551,896, while boys were 578,691.
This represents a loss of 52,626 girls (8.7 per cent) compared to 98,937 boys (14.6 per cent) over the same period. In proportion to the original cohort, both genders lost learners, but girls slightly improved their percentage share of the total, moving from 47.14 per cent to 48.8 per cent as more boys dropped out.
Natasha Kinya (left) and Wamuyu Mwangi (right) both from Juja St Peter's School celebrate with family in Nakuru City on December 11, 2025 after they scored 69 and 68 points respectively in this year's Kenya Junior School Education Assessment results.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“A total of 1,130,587 candidates registered for the 2025 KJSEA in January 2025 in 24,366 Junior Schools across the country. To enhance access and transition, Knec administered a KJSEA Qualifying Test to 2,032 learners in Grade 9 who had joined the CBC system from other systems of education or did not sit KPSEA for various reasons,” said Dr David Njengere, the CEO of Knec, during the release of the 2025 KSEA results.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said that the difference in the number of learners in Grade 6 in 2022 and those expected to sit KJSEA next month is attributable to several factors.
“Some of the reduction is due to natural attrition, which accounts for cases where learners may have passed on or are otherwise no longer able to continue. A section of learners opted for vocational training centres (VICs). Others have transitioned to alternative curricula such as international schools," Mr Ogamba told Saturday Nation.
"There are also cases of dropouts and delayed progression, for instance when learners step out temporarily due to early pregnancies or sickness, but they are given the opportunity to rejoin once they are able,” he explained.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos at the media briefing during the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior Schools Education Assessment results at Mitihani House.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation
The wastage in the education system is not only confined to primary and junior schools; it is also experienced in secondary schools. According to registration data by Knec, 996,078 candidates were registered for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.
Compared to the 1,214,031 candidates who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations in March 2021, it means 217,953 did not make it to the end of secondary education. The number of those who actually sat the KCSE examinations this year is expected to be lower when the results are announced.
