The Kenya National Examinations Council has released the KNEC School Based Assessment (SBA) tools for Term Three 2026. Schools offering Grades 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 must download the materials, administer written tests and performance tasks, mark them, and upload verified scores to the central CBA system before the stated deadline. The council also issued a strict warning against leaking or sharing assessment papers on social media platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Key Takeaways
- KNEC SBA tools for Term Three 2026 are available on the CBA portal for Grades 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8.
- All scores must be uploaded to the central database by 23 October 2026.
- KNEC warns of severe disciplinary and legal action for any teacher or school that leaks papers on messaging apps.
- Headteachers are responsible for portal access, secure printing/storage, and strict supervision during assessment administration.
KNEC School Based Assessment (SBA) tools: rollout and deadlines
The assessment packages went live on the KNEC Competency Based Assessment (CBA) portal on 28 September 2026. The official circular (KNEC/GEN/TD/SE/SBA/GUI/2026/03) sets a hard deadline of midnight on 23 October 2026 for uploading verified learner scores. Schools that fail to meet the deadline or that breach security protocols risk sanctions.
What the SBA tools cover
The Term Three materials form the second half of the annual assessment cycle under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC). They include:
- Grade 3: Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA) — focus on foundational literacy, numeracy and environment tasks.
- Stage-based/Foundation learners: Kenya Foundation Level Education Assessment (KFLEA) — performance tasks for learners with special needs.
- Grades 4, 5, 7 and 8: Standard SBA written tests and performance tasks across multiple learning areas (Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, Science, Agriculture, Social Studies, Religious Education, Creative Arts, Sports and Pre-Technical Studies).
Grade 6 and Grade 9 are exempt from these term-three tools to allow focused preparation for KPSEA and KJSEA national assessments.
Accessing the CBA portal and technical steps
Headteachers and designated assessment coordinators must log in to https://cba.knec.ac.ke to download the packages. If a school head forgets a password the portal includes a “forgot password” recovery option. KNEC has also posted a step‑by‑step user manual on the portal explaining how to download materials, apply rubrics, format uploads and resolve common errors.
Schools should read the manual before downloading to avoid data format mistakes that could delay uploads. Papers containing color diagrams must be reproduced in full color or shown to learners on school screens to avoid misinterpretation.
How schools must secure assessment materials
KNEC has emphasised strict confidentiality. Every educator who accesses the files has a fiduciary duty to keep them secure. Recommended measures include:
- Limit portal credentials to a few trusted senior staff.
- Supervise all printing and reproduction; use locked steel cabinets for physical copies.
- Avoid photographing or sharing any part of the papers on social media or messaging apps.
- Keep digital files encrypted and restrict local network access during the assessment period.
Any unauthorized sharing on Telegram, WhatsApp or similar platforms is treated as a serious professional and legal offence. KNEC may deregister examination centres and pursue disciplinary action against individual teachers and schools involved in leaks.
Why exam integrity matters under CBC
The Competency Based Curriculum relies on continuous, authentic assessment rather than one-off high-stakes tests. When SBA papers leak:
- Scores become unreliable and no longer reflect true learner competence.
- Teachers lose meaningful diagnostic data needed to plan remedial or enrichment work.
- Parents and policymakers receive distorted information that can harm long‑term planning.
Maintaining integrity preserves fairness, accurate reporting and useful data for curriculum improvement.
Practical checklist for headteachers and assessment coordinators
- Portal verification: Log into the CBA portal immediately and resolve password or access issues.
- Manual study: Read the KNEC user manual and scoring rubrics before downloads.
- Resource planning: Arrange color printing or prepare screens for tests with visuals.
- Security measures: Restrict access, monitor printing, lock physical copies and encrypt digital files.
- Staff briefing: Remind all staff that sharing or photographing papers on messaging apps is illegal.
- Record keeping: Archive scripts, score sheets and performance records for audits.
- Deadline adherence: Verify and upload all learner scores before midnight on 23 October 2026.
Where to get CBC support materials
Schools and teachers preparing for assessments can access free practice resources and curriculum designs. Useful resources include free CBC exams and practice papers, downloadable Grade-specific schemes such as Grade 4 CBC schemes of work, and national examination practice like KCPE past papers and KPSEA resources. These resources help teachers reinforce competencies without compromising the security of current SBA instruments.
Final note
Efficient planning, strict security and timely uploads will ensure the KNEC SBA exercise delivers accurate, useful learner data. School leaders must treat assessment security as a top priority to protect the validity of the Competency Based Curriculum and the future learning paths of their students.
