KNEC Issues Final Ultimatum: Schools Face Sh1,000 Fine Per Learner for Late SBA Score Submissions
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has placed primary school headteachers and teachers on high alert, issuing a final ultimatum for the submission of School-Based Assessment (SBA) scores.
Schools that fail to upload project scores for Grade 4 and 5 learners by the midnight deadline today, May 29, 2026, face strict administrative penalties, including fines of up to Sh1,000 for every learner whose data is submitted after the window closes.
With the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal expected to experience heavy traffic as the clock ticks toward the deadline, the Council has warned that there will be no extensions for the Grade 4 and 5 cohorts.
The Critical Assessment Timeline
KNEC has implemented a staggered submission schedule to manage the massive volume of data flowing through the CBA portal.
While some grades have been granted more time, the current “red zone” strictly concerns Grade 4 and 5:
Grade 4 and 5: Deadline is today, May 29, 2026.
Grades 3, 7, and 8: Deadline is July 31, 2026.
Teachers are currently finalizing scores for three core learning areas that demand rigorous practical and project-based work: Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Creative Arts and Sports.
Confusion Grips Grade 9 Implementation
While the pressure is high for Grade 4 and 5, a different kind of anxiety has gripped Junior Schools regarding the pioneer Grade 9 class.
Although learners in Grade 6 and Grade 9 are generally “spared” from standard SBA projects to allow them to focus on their final national transition exams—the KPSEA and KJSEA—there has been widespread confusion over project availability.
KNEC had previously communicated that specific projects for Grade 9 would be uploaded to the CBA portal between May 11 and May 14. However, teachers report that the portal remains empty regarding these materials.
This delay has left educators across the country in a state of limbo, unable to execute the practical aspects of the curriculum for the pioneer cohort.
Avoiding the “Portal Crash” Trap
The stakes for today’s deadline are exceptionally high. A regional KNEC officer warned schools weeks ago that “waiting until the final 48 hours is a recipe for disaster,” citing the inevitable system congestion that occurs when thousands of institutions attempt to access the portal simultaneously.
The SBA cycle is a fundamental pillar of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), tracking a learner’s progress from the moment they are issued a unique Assessment Number in Grade 3. For the current cohorts, the workload is distinct:
Term 2: Dedicated to projects and practicals.
Term 3: Focused on written assessments.
Directive to School Heads
Headteachers are being urged to ensure that all internal verification processes are completed before the midnight cut-off.
Failure to meet the deadline will not only attract the Sh1,000-per-learner penalty but will also likely trigger an audit of the school’s assessment management practices.
As the midnight deadline looms, school administrations are working around the clock to ensure that all student scores are validated and uploaded to the CBA portal, effectively closing the chapter on the Grade 4 and 5 assessment cycle for this term.