The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced the commencement of the registration of Grade 10 learners on the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal, marking a crucial step in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the senior school level.
link: https://cba.knec.ac.ke
According to a notice issued by KNEC, all registered senior school assessment centres have now been enabled to register Grade 10 learners for School-Based Assessment (SBA) through the official CBA portal. The exercise is expected to ensure that learners are properly captured in the national assessment system ahead of future evaluations.
KNEC directed principals of registered senior schools to access the CBA portal through the official platform and complete the registration process within the stipulated timeline. The examinations body emphasized that schools should use the newly generated universal centre code obtained during the registration of senior school centres as both the username and password for logging into the system.
The move comes as Kenya continues the transition from the traditional 8-4-4 education system to the CBC framework, which places greater emphasis on continuous assessment and competency development rather than relying solely on final examinations.
What Schools Need to Do
KNEC outlined several important steps that principals and school administrators must follow:
- Access the CBA portal using the designated web platform.
- Use the new universal centre code generated during senior school registration.
- Log into the portal using the centre code as both username and password.
- Register all Grade 10 learners for School-Based Assessment.
- Verify learner details before final submission.
Education stakeholders have been advised to ensure that all learner information entered into the portal is accurate to avoid future complications during assessment and certification processes.
Registration Deadline Announced
In the notice, KNEC warned that the registration exercise will officially close on 30 July 2026. Schools have therefore been urged to complete the process early and avoid last-minute technical challenges that could affect registration.
The deadline is particularly important because learners who are not registered within the specified period may face difficulties participating in future assessments under the CBC system.
Significance of the Exercise
The registration of Grade 10 learners is a significant milestone in Kenya’s education reforms. Senior school represents a new phase under CBC, where learners begin pursuing pathways aligned with their talents, interests, and career aspirations.
School-Based Assessments play a key role in measuring learners’ progress throughout their education journey. The assessments contribute to the overall evaluation process and provide a more comprehensive picture of learner achievement compared to a single examination.
Education experts have welcomed the continued digitization of assessment processes, noting that online registration improves efficiency, enhances data accuracy, and simplifies learner tracking across the country.
KNEC’s Message to Principals
KNEC has urged principals to act promptly and ensure all eligible Grade 10 learners are registered before the deadline. The council stressed that compliance with registration requirements is essential for smooth assessment administration and successful implementation of the CBC programme.
As the July 30 deadline approaches, schools across Kenya are expected to intensify registration efforts to ensure that no learner is left out of the national assessment system.
With thousands of learners entering senior school under the CBC framework, the registration exercise is set to play a critical role in shaping the future of competency-based education in Kenya.
