The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has confirmed that primary school teachers will take charge in the administration of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), scheduled to begin in October.
According to KNEC officials, teachers will be engaged as centre managers, supervisors, and invigilators during the assessment, which will be the first of its kind since the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The council will adopt a blended deployment approach, involving both junior and primary school teachers to ensure smooth conduct of the examinations.
Teachers will be deployed to junior schools closest to their duty stations. Primary school headteachers, who currently double up as acting principals in junior schools, will serve as centre managers, assisted by their deputies.
Payment Uncertainty
While KNEC has not yet outlined how KJSEA contracted professionals will be compensated, it is expected that they will receive similar rates to colleagues overseeing KCSE and KPSEA. Recently, the council revised upwards the facilitation rates following concerns raised by teachers. Invigilators are now set to receive Sh550 per day, while supervisors will earn Sh680 per day. Centre managers will also be reimbursed for both KCSE and KPSEA duties.
KJSEA Examination Timetable
The KJSEA rehearsals will take place on 24th October 2025, ahead of six days of theory and practical examinations. Approximately four million learners will sit various national assessments across KCSE, KPSEA, KJSEA, and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA), which is designed for learners with special needs.
This year marks a historic milestone as it will be the first time the KJSEA and KPLEA are administered nationwide.
Training of Examiners
To prepare adequately, KNEC has embarked on the second phase of examiner training. The first phase, conducted in April 2025, saw 7,273 teachers trained. By 12th August 2025, the council expects to have trained a total of 14,500 examiners to handle the new assessments.
Speaking during the launch of the training, KNEC CEO Dr. David Njengere urged examiners to embrace the opportunity, reminding them that they are the “quality and standard setters” in ensuring fairness, integrity, and credibility in marking.
Teachers shortlisted for examiner training are paying Sh10,500 each to cover training costs. The examinable areas include:
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English (Composition & Literacy Analysis) – 901/2
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Kiswahili (Insha & Utangulizi Wafasihi) – 902/2
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Mathematics – 903
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Integrated Science – 905/1
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Agriculture (Agriculture & Home Science) – 906/1
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Christian Religious Education – 908
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Islamic Religious Education – 909
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Creative Arts & Sports – 911/2
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Pre-Technical Studies – 912/1
In total, the KJSEA will feature 12 examinable papers, some of which have never been taught or tested in the current format.
Concerns Over Preparedness
Despite the release of sample KJSEA papers, both teachers and learners are reportedly struggling to adapt to the new structure. Concerns have been raised about the complexity and novelty of certain subjects, especially Pre-Technical Studies and Integrated Science, given the short time schools have had to familiarize themselves with the content.
Meanwhile, Grade 9 learners have already completed the selection of senior schools and subject clusters ahead of their transition to Grade 10 in January 2026.
Payment Challenges for Contracted Professionals
In addition, KNEC has highlighted common reasons why some contracted professionals—including teachers, security officers, and drivers—miss their payments. These include:
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Name mismatches between CP2 and M-Pesa details.
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Incomplete or missing ID/TSC numbers.
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Unsubmitted or improperly signed attendance registers.
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Non-deployment in the CP2 portal despite service rendered.
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Delays in submitting accurate data.
The council urged teachers to ensure their details are up to date on the CP2 portal and to work closely with Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs) to resolve outstanding payment issues.