KNEC Sets May 31 Deadline for Grade 4‑5 SBA Project Scores Across Kenya
When KNEC (Kenya National Examinations Council) announced a hard‑stop for uploading Grade 4 and Grade 5 School Based Assessment (SBA) project scores, every primary school from Mombasa to Maasai Mara felt the ripple.
The directive, sent out in a circular dated 21 January 2025Kenya, gives schools until 31 May 2025 to upload their results to the Competency Based Assessment (CBA) portal. The deadline targets the performance tasks—projects and practicals—downloaded from the portal in March 2025 for Grades 4 and 5.
Why the May 31 Cut‑off Matters
The SBA projects are a cornerstone of Kenya’s Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC). They assess real‑world skills in three streams: Science & Technology, Creative Arts & Sports, and Agriculture & Nutrition. By requiring scores before the end of the second term, KNEC hopes to feed timely data into national benchmarking and reduce the administrative backlog that plagued the 2023 cycle.
“We need reliable, up‑to‑date evidence to calibrate the CBC rollout,” said Grace Njoroge, Director of Assessment Services at KNEC. “The May deadline ensures schools have enough breathing room to conduct the projects, score them according to the rubric, and upload the data without jeopardising the next assessment window.”
How Schools Are Supposed to Submit Scores
Step 1: Download the project guidelines and scoring rubrics from the CBA portal (available since 1 March 2025). Step 2: Administer the practical tasks using locally sourced materials—teachers are urged to improvise with items like recycled containers, garden produce, or classroom scraps to keep costs under KSh 500 per class.
Step 3: Record each learner’s performance on the standardized Excel template provided. Step 4: Upload the completed spreadsheet to the portal before the midnight deadline on 31 May. Schools that miss the cut‑off face a KSh 500 fine per late submission, a penalty first applied to the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) scores.
In a recent survey of 120 primary schools in Central Province, 68 % reported having uploaded all scores two weeks early, while the remaining 32 % are still collating evidence from remote classrooms.
Penalties and Financial Implications
KNEC’s fine structure mirrors the 2024 policy that imposed a KSh 300 fee for late Grade 3 Integrated Learning Assessment (ILA) submissions. The current KSh 500 penalty for tardy KJSEA project scores serves as a deterrent, but some headteachers argue it may strain budgets already stretched by COVID‑era inflation.
“Our school operates on a modest PTA fund; an extra KSh 500 per class adds up quickly,” lamented Samuel Otieno, headteacher of Kijiji Primary School in Kilifi County. “That’s why the directive to use ‘improvised’ materials is a lifesaver.”
Broader Timeline: What Comes After May 31?
May 31 is just one waypoint in KNEC’s dense 2025 CBC calendar. The next milestones are:
- 30 July 2025 – upload scores for Grades 3, 7, and 8 SBA projects.
- 30 August 2025 – final submissions for KJSEA candidates (Grade 9).
- 23 October 2025 – deadline for term‑three written SBA tests across all applicable grades.
Notably, Grade 6 and Grade 9 pupils sit for national summative exams—KPSEA and KJSEA respectively—so they are exempt from the term‑three SBA written tests. This staggered approach aims to balance continuous assessment with high‑stakes examinations.
What This Means for Kenya’s Education Landscape
By tightening the upload schedule, KNEC hopes to generate more reliable data for policy‑makers, curriculum developers, and donor agencies tracking CBC outcomes. Consistent, timely scores also help schools pinpoint learning gaps early, allowing remedial programmes to be rolled out before the next academic year.
Experts say the push for locally sourced project materials could spark a wave of low‑cost innovation in classroom teaching. “When teachers are forced to think creatively about resources, students benefit from authentic problem‑solving experiences,” noted Dr. Amina Yusuf, Education Research Fellow at University of Nairobi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a school misses the 31 May deadline?
KNEC will levy a KSh 500 fine per late submission for each affected class. Repeated offenses could trigger additional administrative reviews and may affect the school’s eligibility for certain government subsidies.
Are schools required to keep physical evidence of the projects?
Yes. The January 21 2025 circular instructs headteachers to retain all project artefacts, photos, and scoring sheets for at least two years. These records may be requested during KNEC audits or verification visits.
How are materials sourced for the projects?
KNEC advises teachers to use items readily available in the school’s immediate environment—e.g., recycled plastic bottles for science experiments, locally grown vegetables for nutrition tasks, and simple sports equipment made from rope or wood. This minimizes added costs and promotes sustainability.
What are the next major assessment dates after May 31?
Schools must upload Grade 3, 7, and 8 SBA project scores by 30 July 2025, and KJSEA (Grade 9) scores by 30 August 2025. The final written SBA tests for term three must be uploaded by 23 October 2025.
Why is the CBC framework emphasizing practical projects?
The CBC aims to develop 21st‑century competencies—critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Practical projects let learners apply concepts in real contexts, giving teachers richer evidence of mastery than traditional pen‑and‑paper tests alone.