Grade Nine candidates take KJSEA English language paper at Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School in Nyeri County on October 27, 2025.
Fears that many learners might not qualify for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pathway in senior school were allayed when it was reported that most candidates who did Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) qualify.
According to Education data released Thursday, over 59 percent of the 1.13 million KJSEA candidates fall under the Approaching Expectation (AE) band. This level means the candidate achieved a score of between 21 percent and 40 percent to earn three or four points, depending on their performance in the nine subject areas they were assessed in.
An Approaching Expectation score is sufficient for learners to progress to senior school pathways that require basic competencies in the subject area.
Under the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) reporting, learners’ performance is classified as Exceeding Expectation, Meeting Expectation, Approaching Expectation and Below Expectation.
“Of the 1,130,459 candidates who sat for the 2025 KJSEA, 59.09 percent have demonstrated potential to pursue the STEM pathway at Senior School, 46.52 percent the Social Science pathway and 48.73 percent the Arts and Sports pathway,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
The trend is a repeat of what played out during the selection of career pathways when STEM emerged as the most popular among grade 9 learners.
Underage candidates
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that 35,270 KJSEA candidates were underage — below 13 years — constituting 3.12 percent of the total candidature. Baringo recorded the highest proportion of underage learners at 10.1 percent, followed by Bomet (7.56), Marsabit (7.48), Narok (7.28), and Kericho (7.25).
Majority of the candidates, however, fell within the appropriate age range of 14 to 15 years, accounting for 642,620 or 56.84 percent of the candidature.
Grade Nine candidates take KJSEA English language paper at Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School in Nyeri County on October 27, 2025.
Those aged 16 and 17 years accounted for 36.71 percent (or 415,059) while adult candidates (aged 18 years and above) were 37,638, constituting 3.33 percent of the candidature.
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