The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has released the 2025 KCSE results slips and called on candidates to collect them from their schools. The Council also dispatched a range of teacher education certificates to Sub County Directors and opened registration for the 2026 national assessments — including KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE.
Key Takeaways
- KCSE results slips for 2025 are ready; candidates should collect them at their schools.
- KNEC has dispatched multiple teacher education certificates; some cohorts (DSTE 2022) remain pending.
- Registration for 2026 national tests has started with specific opening and closing dates for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE.
- Schools must ensure accurate registration data and avoid registering ghost candidates to prevent sanctions.
Collecting KCSE 2025 results slips
The 2025 KCSE results slips are available at the candidates’ registered schools. KNEC advised all candidates to visit their schools to collect their slips as soon as possible. School administrators should manage distribution promptly and keep records of issued slips.
Certificates dispatched and those pending
KNEC has sent various teacher education and assessment certificates to Sub County Directors. These include:
- 2022 DECTE (Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education) and DPTE (Diploma in Primary Teacher Education)
- 2023 UDPTE and UDECTE (upgrading diplomas)
- 2025 ECDE Diploma, DTE, PTE and SNE certificates
However, KNEC noted that the 2022 DSTE (Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education) certificates were not included in this dispatch and will be communicated separately when ready. The TCAE 2025 certificates have been collected by the Directorate of Adult Education for onward dispatch to TCAE centre principals. College principals should liaise with Sub County Education Officers to collect certificates for eligible trainees.
2026 registration: timelines and requirements
KNEC has begun the 2026 registration exercise for national exams and assessments. The Council will prepare online portals, timetables and circulars to guide the process. Key registration windows are:
- KPSEA (Grade 6): 16 February – 16 March 2026
- KJSEA (Grade 9): 2 March – 31 March 2026
- KCSE (Form 4): 16 February – 31 March 2026
For KPSEA and KJSEA, schools will register learners using the KNEC CBA portal. Only eligible learners should be presented for assessment. KJSEA candidates must already exist in the Grade 9 database and have a KPSEA Performance Report as well as School Based Assessment (SBA) scores for Grades 7 and 8 across all learning areas.
Data accuracy and transfer rules
Heads of institutions must ensure the accuracy of registration data. Required details include:
- Correct spelling and order of learners’ names as on their birth certificates
- Gender
- Year of birth
- Citizenship
- Religious Education option (e.g., CRE, IRE, HRE)
Requests to transfer Grade 6 and Grade 9 candidates must be made online before the portal closes. Transfers after portal closure will not be allowed. Schools are warned against registering ghost candidates — this is an assessment malpractice that may lead to sanctions, including de-registration as a KNEC assessment centre.
How parents and schools can confirm registration
After registration, parents or schools can confirm a candidate’s registration by sending an SMS to 20076. The message should start with the exam or assessment type followed by the candidate’s index or assessment number. Example formats:
- KCSE123506013 — to check a KCSE candidate with index number 123506013
- Use the assessment number for KPSEA or KJSEA checks
A confirmation reply will indicate whether the candidate is registered for the requested national assessment.
Practical advice for candidates and schools
To avoid delays and issues:
- Collect 2025 KCSE results slips from your school immediately to begin any further application or verification processes.
- School administrators should reconcile records before and after distribution and keep a log of recipients.
- Prepare required documents and SBA scores early for KJSEA and KPSEA registration.
- Use the online transfer option where necessary and verify candidate details before submission.
Useful resources for preparation and revision
Students preparing for national assessments can access free revision and exam resources to support study plans. For KCSE and related revision materials, see the KCSE revision exams and topical papers. Candidates and teachers working with the Competency Based Curriculum can find sample papers at the free CBC exams hub. Those seeking past papers and practice for the national secondary exam (KCSE/KSCE) may use the KSCE exam resources for topical practice and mock papers.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where do candidates collect their KCSE slips?
A: Collection is from the candidate’s registered school.
Q: Can transfers be done after the portal closes?
A: No. Transfers for Grade 6 and 9 must be completed online before the registration portal closes.
Q: What happens if a school registers ghost candidates?
A: KNEC considers this malpractice and may impose sanctions including de-registration as an assessment centre.
