Following the release of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment results, many parents are baffled by the new 8-level grading system. They seek clarification on grades like 'EE', unsure if they indicate high or low performance. The Ministry of Education introduced this shift from the traditional A-E scale.
Just a day after the Ministry of Education announced the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results on December 12, 2025, numerous parents visited their children's schools seeking explanations about the new grading system. This 8-level approach has sparked widespread confusion nationwide, as parents struggle to interpret the true meaning of their children's scores.
Previously, the traditional system used grades from A to E, but now performance is categorized into four main levels: Exceeding Expectations (EE), Meeting Expectations (ME), Approaching Expectations (AE), and Below Expectations (BE). Each subject is scored out of 8 points, with 9 learning areas, allowing a maximum total of 72 points.
Parents have expressed frustration over the difficulty in understanding the results. One parent stated, 'I checked my child's results and saw it written 'EE', and I am confused about these terminologies, which have become difficult to interpret. We were used to the traditional grading way.' Some have mistakenly assumed 'EE' signifies poor performance akin to the old E grade.
In reality, 'EE' denotes strong achievement: EE1 (90-100 percent) for exceptional performance, and EE2 (75-89 percent) for very good. ME1 (58-74 percent) is good, while ME2 (41-57 percent) is fair. AE1 (31-40 percent) requires improvement, AE2 (21-30 percent) is below average. BE1 (11-20 percent) is well below average, and BE2 (1-10 percent) is minimal.
The system aims to provide more nuanced feedback on student progress, yet it has caused significant unease among parents unaccustomed to the changes.