What is the CBC curriculum in Kenya?

The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is Kenya's reformed education system that replaced the 8-4-4 system. Developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), CBC focuses on developing practical skills and competencies using a 2-6-3-3-3 structure: 2 years Pre-Primary, 6 years Primary, 3 years Junior Secondary, 3 years Senior Secondary, and 3+ years Tertiary.

How does the CBC grading system work?

The CBC uses four broad descriptors: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE), and Below Expectations (BE). Each is subdivided into two levels, creating an 8-point scale from EE1 (8 points) to BE2 (1 point). This replaces the traditional percentage-based marks system used in 8-4-4.

What are the three Senior School pathways under CBC?

Senior School (Grades 10-12) offers three pathways: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), Social Sciences (Humanities, Business & Legal Studies), and Arts & Sports Science (Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Sports Science). Schools can be triple-pathway or dual-pathway institutions. The first CBC cohort entered Senior School in January 2026.

Does Elimika support both CBC and 8-4-4 curriculum?

Yes. Elimika fully supports both the CBC (2-6-3-3-3) and legacy 8-4-4 curriculum systems. Schools transitioning to CBC can manage both systems simultaneously, with dedicated report card templates, grading rubrics, and assessment tools for each curriculum.

What national exams does CBC have?

Under CBC, the national assessments are: KPSEA (Kenya Primary School Education Assessment) at Grade 6, KJSEA (Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment) at Grade 9, and KCBE (Kenya Certificate of Basic Education) at Grade 12. These replace the old KCPE and KCSE exams.

What are the 7 core competencies of CBC?

The seven core competencies are: Communication & Collaboration, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Creativity & Imagination, Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Learning to Learn, and Self-Efficacy. These competencies are assessed across all learning areas at every level.

Can parents view CBC report cards online?

Yes. With Elimika, parents can receive CBC report cards via SMS notification and view detailed competency-based assessments through the parent portal. Each report shows performance levels, strand progress, and teacher comments aligned to CBC standards.

How does Elimika handle M-Pesa fee payments?

Elimika integrates with Safaricom's Daraja API to enable M-Pesa STK Push payments for school fees. Parents receive an M-Pesa prompt on their phone, and payments are automatically reconciled in the system — eliminating manual bookkeeping and reducing fee collection time.

Curriculum Support

Fully Compatible with Kenya's CBC Curriculum

Elimika is purpose-built to support the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) 2-6-3-3-3 structure. From Pre-Primary (PP1) to Senior Secondary (Grade 12), our platform handles rubric-based grading, competency descriptors, CBC report cards, and the three Senior School pathways — making it the most comprehensive CBC school management system in Kenya.

2-6-3-3-3 Structure

Rubric-Based Grading

Senior School Pathways

KICD Aligned

2-6-3-3-3 Structure

Understanding the CBC Curriculum Structure

The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to replace the 8-4-4 system. It follows a 2-6-3-3-3 progression: 2 years of Pre-Primary education, 6 years of Primary (split into Lower and Upper), 3 years of Junior Secondary, 3 years of Senior Secondary, and 3+ years of Tertiary education. This structure emphasizes competency development at every level rather than rote examination performance.

2 years

Pre-Primary

PP1 – PP2

3 years

Lower Primary

Grade 1–3

3 years

Upper Primary

Grade 4–6

3 years

Junior Secondary

Grade 7–9

3 years

Senior Secondary

Grade 10–12

Pre-Primary Subjects

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Pre-Primary level

Language Activities
Mathematical Activities
Environmental Activities
Psychomotor & Creative Activities
Religious Education Activities

Lower Primary Subjects

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Lower Primary level

Literacy
Kiswahili Language Activities
English Language Activities
Indigenous Language Activities
Mathematical Activities
Environmental Activities
Hygiene & Nutrition Activities
Religious Education Activities
Movement & Creative Activities

Upper Primary Subjects

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Upper Primary level

English
Kiswahili
Mathematics
Science & Technology
Social Studies
Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
Creative Arts
Physical & Health Education
Agriculture & Nutrition
Home Science

Junior Secondary Subjects

Learning areas prescribed by KICD for Junior Secondary level

English
Kiswahili
Mathematics
Integrated Science
Social Studies
Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
Creative Arts & Sports
Pre-Technical Studies
Agriculture & Nutrition

Core Competencies

The 7 Core Competencies of CBC

At the heart of the CBC framework are seven core competencies that every learner must develop across all levels of education. Unlike the 8-4-4 system which focused primarily on knowledge recall, these competencies ensure learners develop practical, applicable skills. Elimika tracks and reports on each competency across all learning areas, giving teachers and parents a holistic view of learner development.

Communication & Collaboration

Learners develop the ability to share ideas, work in teams, listen actively, and express themselves clearly through speaking and writing.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Encourages analytical reasoning, logical evaluation of information, and the ability to solve real-world problems through evidence-based approaches.

Creativity & Imagination

Nurtures original thinking, artistic expression, and the imagination needed to innovate and create solutions beyond conventional boundaries.

Citizenship

Fosters national identity, social responsibility, respect for diversity, and active participation in community and national development.

Digital Literacy

Equips learners with skills to use technology responsibly, access digital resources, and navigate the modern information landscape safely.

Learning to Learn

Builds metacognitive skills so learners understand how they learn best, set goals, reflect on progress, and become self-directed lifelong learners.

Self-Efficacy

Develops personal confidence, resilience, and the belief that one can succeed through effort, leading to intrinsic motivation and perseverance.

Assessment Framework

CBC Rubric-Based Grading System

The CBC replaces percentage-based marks with a rubric-based grading system using four broad descriptors: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE), and Below Expectations (BE). Each descriptor is subdivided into two levels, creating an 8-point scale. This approach evaluates not just what a learner knows, but what they can do with that knowledge in practical situations. Elimika automatically applies these descriptors when teachers enter assessments, generating compliant report cards with proper competency language.

Exceeding Expectations

Points: 7-8

The learner has demonstrated exceptional mastery and can apply knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations independently.

Meeting Expectations

Points: 5-6

The learner meets the expected competency standards for their level and can demonstrate understanding with minimal guidance.

Approaching Expectations

Points: 3-4

The learner is making progress towards meeting the expected level but still requires some support and guided practice.

Below Expectations

Points: 1-2

The learner has not yet demonstrated the basic competency and requires significant intervention, support, and remediation.

Complete 8-Point CBC Grading Scale

The full rubric-based grading scale used in CBC assessments from Pre-Primary to Senior Secondary

Level	Points	Descriptor	Meaning
EE1	8	Exceeding Expectations	Exceptional mastery, applies knowledge in new situations
EE2	7	Exceeding Expectations	Strong mastery with consistent high performance
ME1	6	Meeting Expectations	Meets expected competency level independently
ME2	5	Meeting Expectations	Demonstrates competency with minimal guidance
AE1	4	Approaching Expectations	Shows progress but needs some support
AE2	3	Approaching Expectations	Beginning to demonstrate basic understanding
BE1	2	Below Expectations	Requires significant support and intervention
BE2	1	Below Expectations	Has not yet demonstrated basic competency

Senior Secondary

Three Senior School Pathways

A major innovation of the CBC is the introduction of three distinct pathways at Senior Secondary level (Grades 10-12). Rather than all students following the same curriculum, learners choose a pathway aligned with their strengths, interests, and career aspirations. The first CBC cohort entered Senior Secondary in January 2026, and Elimika was ready from day one with full pathway management, subject allocation, and pathway-specific report cards.

Pathway 1

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Available Tracks

Pure Sciences
Applied Sciences
Technical Engineering
Computer Science & IT

Pathway 2

Social Sciences

Humanities, Business & Social Studies

Available Tracks

Languages & Literature
Business Studies
Humanities & Legal Studies

Pathway 3

Arts & Sports Science

Creative Arts, Performing Arts & Sports

Available Tracks

Visual Arts & Design
Performing Arts
Sports Science & PE
Media & Film Studies

Schools may operate as triple-pathway, dual-pathway, or single-pathway institutions depending on their resources and KICD accreditation. Elimika supports all configurations.

National Examinations

CBC National Assessments

Under the CBC framework, Kenya has introduced new national assessments to replace the KCPE and KCSE examinations. These assessments focus on evaluating competencies and practical skills rather than rote memorization. Elimika helps schools prepare students for these assessments by tracking competency progress, generating mock assessment reports, and providing performance analytics aligned to the national assessment standards.

Grade 6

KPSEA

Kenya Primary School Education Assessment

Grade 9

KJSEA

Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment

Grade 12

KCBE

Kenya Certificate of Basic Education

Did you know? The KPSEA replaced KCPE starting with the pioneer CBC cohort. KJSEA is administered at Grade 9 to determine learner readiness for Senior Secondary pathways, while KCBE at Grade 12 certifies completion of basic education. Elimika provides exam preparation tools, performance tracking, and competency-aligned mock assessments for all three national exams.

Platform Features

What Elimika Offers for CBC Schools

Elimika was built from the ground up with CBC compliance in mind. Every module, every report, and every assessment tool is designed to meet the requirements of Kenya's reformed curriculum, ensuring your school stays fully compliant with KICD standards.

PP1–PP2 Pre-Primary Assessment

Grade 1–6 Primary with Strand Tracking

Grade 7–9 Junior Secondary Management

Grade 10–12 Senior Secondary (3 Pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, Arts & Sports)

Rubric-Based Grading (EE, ME, AE, BE) — 8-Point Scale

CBC-Specific Report Cards with Competency Descriptors

KPSEA, KJSEA & KCBE Exam Support

Senior Secondary Ready — First Cohort 2026

Free Tool

Try a CBC report card right now

Pick a grade, enter strand marks, and see a fully-formatted CBC report card render live. Supports both KJSEA 8-point and 4-band rubric. No login.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About CBC & Elimika

Get answers to the most common questions about how Elimika supports the CBC curriculum, grading systems, and school management in Kenya.

Start Managing Your CBC School Today

Join Kenyan schools using Elimika to manage CBC assessments, report cards, and competency tracking. Start with a free account — no credit card required, and our team will help you set up your school within 24 hours.

Free to get started with all modules unlocked. No credit card. Setup in 24 hours.