How Foreign Students Can Join Kenyan Education System: KNEC
KNEC confirmed that the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) qualifying test is scheduled from June 9 to June 11.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Foreign students looking to transition into the Kenyan education system will sit for their qualifying exams in the next three weeks, according to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
In a statement on Tuesday, May 20, KNEC confirmed that the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) qualifying test is scheduled from June 9 to June 11.
This exam is essential for students entering Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) from foreign or non-traditional education backgrounds. KNEC also mentioned that the full exam timetable has been uploaded to their official website.
Photo of KNEC offices in Nairobi. /NAIROBI LEO
Passing the qualifying test allows these learners to officially enrol in the KJSEA, aligning them academically with their CBC peers.
"The candidates sitting the 2025 KJSEA qualifying test have already been contacted," KNEC revealed.
After the qualifying test is administered and graded, the results will determine whether a student is eligible to register for the KJSEA, part of a system designed to ensure fairness and consistency.
The test plays a key role in establishing each learner’s academic foundation before they are integrated into the regular junior school assessment framework.
Separately, KNEC has also released the 2025 project and performance task guidelines for students nationwide. These tasks are now accessible via the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.
With this update, schools can now begin assigning and conducting assessments for students in Grades 3, 7, and 8, as well as for those in the stage-based curriculum and KJSEA candidates.
Strict deadlines accompany this rollout: schools must upload project scores for Grades 3, 7, and 8 by July 31, while KJSEA project scores must be submitted by August 30, 2025.
KNEC has warned that schools will face penalties for missing these deadlines, including a fine of Ksh500 per learner for any late submissions.
