Implementation of an alternative entry criteria in education

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to review the current exam-based system of academic progression, which has excluded millions of learners based on basic education level exit exams, by implementing alternative entry criteria.

The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) framework is operational; however, it faces significant implementation challenges.
The framework, which prioritizes skill development over exam memorization, is intended to create more flexible pathways to higher education and technical and vocational education and training and vocational education and training institutions (TVETs).
While the new approach was developed following recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, the system continues to rely heavily on standardized test results for university admission, with a C+ mean grade from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) still serving as the standard university entry point.
Additionally, the placement crisis in, December 2025 and early 2026, of the first Grade 10 cohort under the Competency- Based Education system exposed inequality gaps as students were placed far from home and in institutions they had not chosen/ reflect their abilities.

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This Promise Tracker is an independent civic-accountability tool designed to monitor and document the progress of public commitments made by the Government of Kenya. Information presented on this platform is compiled from publicly available sources including government publications, parliamentary records, policy documents, and credible media reports. The classifications used in this tracker represent an evidence-based assessment by the platform’s researchers and should be understood as analytical judgments rather than official government determinations. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and regular updates, the status of promises may evolve as new information becomes available. This website is not affiliated with or operated by the Government of Kenya.

Last updated: May 18, 2026 12:20 pm