KNEC Opens Registration for 2025 KJSEA and KPLEA Candidates
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially opened the registration for learners eligible to sit the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Pre-vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA). The registration process began on Monday and will run until March 28, 2025.
To facilitate a smooth registration process, all assessment centres must download and review the User Manual available on the KNEC CBASA portal (cbasa.knec.ac.ke). This document provides detailed guidelines to ensure compliance with KNEC regulations.
KNEC has emphasized that Heads of Institutions (HoIs) are responsible for registering their Grade 9 learners for KJSEA while strictly adhering to all instructions. The council has clarified that learners will not be automatically uploaded onto the KJSEA portal; instead, all candidates must be registered afresh between March 3 and March 28, 2025.
For a learner to be eligible for KJSEA, they must be present in the Grade 9 database, possess a KPSEA Performance Report, and have their School-Based Assessment (SBA) scores for Grades 7 and 8 recorded in all learning areas. Additionally, ghost candidate registration is considered a serious malpractice, which may lead to severe penalties, including the de-registration of schools as assessment centres.
Accuracy in Registration Details
Heads of Institutions are urged to ensure absolute accuracy when submitting learner registration details. Information such as the correct spelling and order of names (as per birth certificates), gender, year of birth, citizenship status, religious education options, and any special needs or disabilities must be verified before submission.
For learners with special needs, the following categories must be correctly indicated:
- B – Visually impaired candidates requiring Braille
- LV – Candidates requiring Large Print papers
- HI – Candidates with hearing impairments
- PH – Candidates with physical impairments
Additionally, any transfer requests for Grade 9 learners must be processed online to prevent double registration. Once the registration portal closes on April 4, 2025, no further transfers will be allowed. Heads of Institutions must also ensure that SBA scores for all candidates are uploaded before the registration deadline.
KPLEA Registration and Fees for Non-Citizen Learners
Teachers responsible for pre-vocational learners are advised to assess and confirm their readiness before registering them for KPLEA. Institutions must register learners through the KPLEA Registration portal (cbasa.knec.ac.ke).
KNEC has also clarified that the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education (MoE), will cover assessment fees for all Kenyan learners in both public and private schools. However, non-citizen learners must pay an assessment fee of KES 4,500, payable via the e-Citizen platform.
School Eligibility and Hosting Arrangements
Institutions wishing to present candidates for the 2025 KJSEA/KPLEA must meet specific eligibility criteria. Schools with fewer than five candidates will not be allowed to register independently and should coordinate with their respective Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs) to find a suitable KNEC-accredited assessment centre. Additionally, assessment centres with fewer than thirty candidates will be assigned hosting locations in accordance with KNEC guidelines.
KNEC has reserved the right to deregister or relocate assessment centres and candidates if necessary, as outlined in the KNEC Rules and Regulations (2015).
Validation of New Assessment Centres
Institutions applying to be new KNEC assessment centres for the 2025 KJSEA are currently undergoing an inspection process. KNEC will communicate the acceptance or rejection of these applications through the SCDEs.
To qualify, new centres must submit the following:
- A certified copy of a valid Registration Certificate from the County Director of Education
- An inspection questionnaire from the SCDE’s office
- A bank deposit slip as proof of payment for the Assessment Centre Registration fee
The inspection process will conclude by February 21, 2025. Schools not inspected by this date must work with their SCDEs to find an approved centre for their candidates.
Additionally, newly created sub-counties requesting coding must provide KNEC with supporting documents, including the Kenya Gazette notice legalizing the sub-county’s creation and a list of schools within the new sub-county.
Secure Registration and Data Protection Compliance
All SCDEs and Heads of Institutions must log into the CBASA portal (cbasa.knec.ac.ke) using their official credentials. These login details are confidential, and HoIs must ensure their security to prevent unauthorized access. In case of a lost or forgotten password, HoIs should seek assistance from KNEC (js@knec.ac.ke) or their SCDE.
Once approved, new assessment centres will access the registration platform using their assigned Centre Code as the username and password. Upon first login, they will be required to change their password for added security.
Furthermore, Centre Managers must confirm their collection centres with their SCDEs, ensuring they are well-prepared for the assessment field administration process.
KNEC has reiterated its commitment to data protection, emphasizing that all parents and guardians must consent to the collection of learners’ personal data in line with the Data Protection Act of 2019. Learners will also be required to sign nominal rolls and other accountability documents to confirm the accuracy of their registration details.
No Late Registration
The KJSEA Registration portal will officially close on March 28, 2025, with no provisions for late registration. KNEC urges all stakeholders, including school heads, parents, and learners, to adhere strictly to the set deadlines to avoid any last-minute complications.
