2-6-3-3-3 System: A Complete Guide to Competency-Based Education
Kenya's Competency-Based Education (CBE) system is designed to equip learners with practical skills, values, and competencies needed in real life. Replacing the 8-4-4 system, CBE follows the 2-6-3-3-3 structure and emphasizes continuous assessment over one-time exams.
This comprehensive guide explains how the system works, how learners are assessed from PP1 to Senior School, and how schools can stay compliant with KNEC assessment requirements.
| Level | Years | Grades | Age Group | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary | 2 | PP1 – PP2 | 4–5 years | Foundation skills |
| Lower Primary | 3 | Grade 1 – 3 | 6–8 years | Literacy & numeracy |
| Upper Primary | 3 | Grade 4 – 6 | 9–11 years | Skill-based learning |
| Junior Secondary (JSS) | 3 | Grade 7 – 9 | 12–15 years | Career exploration |
| Senior School | 3 | Grade 10 – 12 | 15–18 years | Career pathways |
| Tertiary | – | – | 18+ years | Professional training |
CBE uses continuous and competency-based assessment rather than relying on final exams.
| Grade | Assessment Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | SBA by KNEC | National evaluation & LAN |
| Grade 4-5 | CBA | Skill development |
| Grade 6 | KPSEA | Certification & JSS transition |
| Grade 9 | National Assessment | Senior School transition |
| Grade 12 | Career Pathway | Exit credentials |
From Grade 3, every learner receives a unique 10-digit KNEC Assessment Number that:
At the pre-primary level, learners are not graded using marks. Instead, they are ranked using competency rubrics:
Outstanding performance
Satisfactory performance
Developing skills
Needs support
The School Leaving Certificate is built gradually starting from Grade 3 by compiling:
CBE organizes subjects into the following Learning Areas:
English, Kiswahili
Managing CBE manually is difficult. Schools must track:
This is why schools use SchoolFix, the #1 CBE-ready school management system in Kenya, to simplify academic tracking, assessments, and KNEC compliance.
SchoolFix makes it simple — automate assessments, generate CBE report cards, and manage learners effortlessly.
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