KNEC Launches CBA Portal for Grade 3 & 6 Learner Registration

When Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) opened its new competency-based assessment portal, schools across the country suddenly had a digital doorway to register Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners for the 2025 testing cycle. The site – reachable at cba.knec.ac.ke – is the official hub for feeding learner data into the upcoming Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA).

Why the CBA Portal Matters Now

The Kenyan education system is in the middle of a historic shift from the old rote‑based exams to a competency‑based curriculum. That transition began in 2022, and each year the council adds another level of the new assessment ladder. By 2025, the KPSEA for lower primary (Grade 3) and the KILEA for upper primary (Grade 6) are the two critical checkpoints. Without a reliable registration channel, schools risk missing the national deadline, which could push learners into a year‑long backlog.

According to the Ministry of Education, the registration window opened on 1 March 2025 and will stay open until 30 April 2025. The tight timeline forces both school administrators and parents to act quickly, otherwise the learners’ assessment results could be delayed or even invalidated.

How the Portal Works: A Step‑by‑Step Walkthrough

First, every school must secure its unique KNEC Code. This identifier doubles as the portal username and is issued by the Area Sub‑County Director of Education (SCDE) in the school’s jurisdiction. Once the code is in hand, the school receives a password that unlocks the dashboard.

Once logged in, administrators see a clean interface with two main tabs: “Grade 3 Registration” and “Grade 6 Registration.” Clicking either tab reveals a “Register Learners” button. From there, the user can upload an Excel template (provided on the portal) or enter each learner’s details manually – name, date of birth, national ID, and parent contact information.

After submission, the system validates the data against the national learner database. Any mismatches – say, a missing ID number – trigger an on‑screen alert, prompting the school to correct the entry before the final lock‑in on 30 April.

Who Needs to Be Involved?

KPSEANairobi and KILEANairobi will be administered centrally from KNEC’s headquarters in Nairobi, but the heavy lifting happens locally.

Schools – headteachers, ICT officers, and the designated registration officer – must double‑check every learner’s information. A single typo in a national ID can send a child’s results to the wrong file, creating headaches for both parents and the council.

Parents – the ultimate beneficiaries – are urged to review the printed summary sheets that schools distribute after the upload. The council’s flyer, circulating in local radio spots, repeats the mantra: “Check twice, register once.”

SCDEs – acting as the bridge between schools and KNEC – handle password resets, code re‑issues, and any on‑ground troubleshooting. The council’s hotline, 020‑321‑6789, routes callers directly to the nearest SCDE office.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Using an outdated KNEC Code – always confirm the code with the SCDE before the first login.
• Uploading the Excel template with hidden formulas – the portal strips out anything that isn’t pure data, which can corrupt the file.
• Missing the 30 April lock‑in – the system goes read‑only at midnight, so plan to finish a week early.
• Neglecting to verify parent contact numbers – this slows down any follow‑up SMS alerts the council sends about exam dates.

Schools that encounter technical glitches are explicitly told not to try “DIY” fixes. Instead, they should contact their SCDE, who can liaise with KNEC’s IT unit. The council has warned that unauthorized attempts to tamper with the portal could lead to data breaches and, in extreme cases, sanctions against the school.

What This Means for Kenya’s Education Future

The launch of the CBA portal is more than a bureaucratic update; it’s a litmus test for Kenya’s digital transformation in education. If the registration runs smoothly, the data collected will feed into the national analytics platform that tracks learner competency trends across counties. Those insights will shape teacher training programs, resource allocation, and even future curriculum revisions.

Conversely, widespread registration errors could erode confidence in the competency‑based system, prompting calls for a fallback to the old KCPE model. That would be a step backward, especially as the government has earmarked $2.3 million for digital infrastructure upgrades in schools over the next three years.

Looking Ahead: Key Dates to Remember

Beyond the 30 April registration deadline, stakeholders should mark the following milestones:

1. 1 May 2025 – KPSEA testing window opens (first week of May).
2. 15 May 2025 – KPSEA results released to schools.
3. 1 August 2025 – KILEA testing window begins.
4. 15 August 2025 – KILEA results disseminated.
5. 30 September 2025 – KNEC publishes national competency reports.

These dates give teachers and parents a clear roadmap, but they also underscore why timely registration is non‑negotiable.