EXPLAINER: How to access Grade 10 placement results

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during a past event/FILE 

The Ministry of Education has released Grade 10 placement results for candidates who sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).

These results determine the senior secondary schools learners will join as they transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10.

Accessing the placement information is a critical step for students and parents as they prepare for the next phase of education.

In that regard, the Ministry has made the efforts to make the process accessible through multiple channels.

Candidates can check their school placement through SMS by sending their KNEC assessment number to 22263, according to their communication channels.

This service costs Sh30 per SMS and provides the learner with information about the school to which they have been assigned.

The SMS option is particularly convenient for students and parents who may not have ready access to the internet or computers, ensuring that everyone can receive their placement information promptly.

Alternatively, the online portal offers a more detailed view of the placement results.

Students and parents can visit selection.education.go.ke, the official Ministry of Education placement platform.

Once on the site, learners can navigate to the placement results section, where a “Get Started” option allows them to initiate the process of viewing their assigned school.

This digital platform is part of the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) and provides a comprehensive solution for managing student placements, transfers, and admissions.

By streamlining these activities, the Placement System is aimed at reducing errors and enhancing transparency in the allocation of students to senior schools.

THE PLACEMENT SELECTION SYSTEM

The Grade 10 School and Career Pathway Selection System is a national digital platform developed to support Grade 9 learners in Kenya as they transition to senior secondary school under the Competency-Based Education framework. The system enables learners to make informed choices by selecting their preferred career pathways, subject combinations, and senior schools in line with their interests, abilities, and future aspirations.

Through the platform, learners are guided to explore available pathways such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, Arts, and Sports Science. This approach is intended to help students better understand how their talents and strengths align with different learning tracks before making final selections. The system also allows learners to search for schools offering their preferred pathways and subjects.

The platform provides a structured and user-friendly process where learners can submit their choices digitally and generate confirmation slips for reference. While it captures learner preferences, it does not conduct actual school placement. Instead, the information collected is used by education authorities and schools to support the placement process.

Overall, the system plays a key role in empowering learners, promoting informed decision-making, and supporting a smooth transition from junior to senior secondary education in Kenya.

Senior school

Senior school in Kenya, covering Grades 10 to 12, is scheduled to officially begin in January 2026, marking the transition for the pioneer Grade 9 cohort.

The Ministry has categorised senior schools into four main types to ensure placements are equitable and responsive to learner needs.

These categories include academic pathways, accommodation, gender, and special needs.

The academic pathways are divided into two primary tracks.

The double pathway includes Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and Arts & Sports Science (STEAMS), while the triple pathway offers STEM, Arts & Sports, and Social Sciences.

This division allows students to pursue a stream that aligns with their interests and academic strengths, enhancing their chances of success in senior school.

The accommodation category further distinguishes schools based on whether learners will reside at school or commute from home.

Day senior schools are designed for students who travel to and from home daily, while hybrid senior schools cater to learners who may reside at the school for part of the week but also return home on other days.

This flexibility ensures that student welfare and logistical considerations are taken into account during placement.

Gender considerations also remain important, with some schools maintaining single-gender or mixed-gender structures depending on policy and capacity.

Additionally, learners with special needs are placed in schools equipped to support their specific requirements, reaffiriming the Ministry’s commitment to inclusivity and equitable access to quality education.

The Placement System is designed to offer learners and parents all necessary information about the assigned school, including pathway, accommodation type, and special considerations.

Parents and students are encouraged to review their placement results as soon as they are available to prepare adequately for the start of senior school.

The online portal provides a dedicated section where learners can access their placement results.

The Ministry has assured that support will be available for any learner who may require transfers or adjustments due to special circumstances, ensuring that every student can access a school that meets their needs.

As senior school officially begins in January 2026, the new placement system represents a significant step in the ongoing education reforms in Kenya

It's aimed at ensuring that the pioneer Grade 9 cohort experiences a smooth and well-organised transition into senior school, setting the stage for a more efficient management of the education system.

Students and parents are urged to follow the official channels when accessing placement results, verify the information carefully, and plan ahead for enrolment.

Under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) assessment model, learner performance in KJSEA is reported through descriptive achievement levels, not a single total score across subjects.

KNEC uses four main performance levels — Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Approaching Expectations, and Below Expectations — each divided into two sub-levels to create an eight-point scale ranging from EE1 (8 points) to BE2 (1 point).

The Ministry of Education released the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) results on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

The results were unveiled by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) headquarters, with all candidates now eligible for placement into Grade 10 senior secondary schools.

A total of 1,130,459 learners sat for the 2025 KJSEA examination, with 578,630 male and 551,829 female candidates, reflecting a near-balanced gender distribution nationwide.

This cohort represents the first group to complete the new junior secondary level under the CBC framework.

Preliminary performance data released alongside the results show varied outcomes across subjects.

In key learning areas, seven subjects, including Hindu Religious Education, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Creative Arts and Sports, Kiswahili, Christian Religious Education (CRE), and Agriculture, recorded stronger performance levels, with a significant proportion of learners meeting or exceeding expectations.

However, the results also highlighted challenges in certain areas. Mathematics and Kenyan Sign Language recorded some of the lowest performance levels among learners.