Your older child sat KCPE and KCSE under 8-4-4. Your younger child is now in Grade 7 under what the school calls CBE. Last year it was called CBC. Three names, two generations, one very confused parent. Here is the definitive explanation.
The Three Names and What They Mean
Kenya has had two distinct education systems in the last decade, not three. The confusion comes from a name change that happened in 2025. Here is the complete picture.
| Name | Full Form | Period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-4-4 | Eight years primary, four years secondary, four years university | 1985 to 2023 | Being phased out — last KCSE in 2027 |
| CBC | Competency-Based Curriculum | 2017 to April 2025 | Renamed — same system, old name |
| CBE | Competency-Based Education | April 2025 to present | Current official name |
CBC and CBE are the same curriculum. In April 2025, Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba officially renamed CBC to CBE at a launch event at KICC. The subjects, structure, assessments and learning outcomes did not change. Only the name did.
How the Structures Compare
The most visible difference between 8-4-4 and CBE is the school structure. The number of years a child spends in each level changed significantly.
| Level | 8-4-4 | CBE (formerly CBC) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-primary | Not formalised nationally | PP1 and PP2 — 2 years |
| Primary | Standards 1 to 8 — 8 years | Grades 1 to 6 — 6 years |
| Junior secondary | Did not exist | Grades 7 to 9 — 3 years |
| Senior secondary | Forms 1 to 4 — 4 years | Grades 10 to 12 — 3 years |
| University | 4 years minimum | 3 years minimum (proposed) |
| Total school years | 12 years | 14 years including pre-primary |
How Assessment Changed
This is the most significant practical difference for parents and learners. The 8-4-4 system placed enormous weight on two national examinations. CBE distributes assessment across multiple points over many years.
| Feature | 8-4-4 | CBE |
|---|---|---|
| Primary exit exam | KCPE — single exam, marks out of 500 | KPSEA — no pass mark, four performance levels |
| Secondary exit exam | KCSE — single exam, grades A to E | KJSEA at Grade 9, then KCBE at Grade 12 |
| Continuous assessment | Minimal — mostly end-of-term tests | SBA — counts 20% of placement score |
| Grading system | Percentage marks and letter grades | BE, AE, ME, EE performance levels |
| Pathway choice | None — all students studied same subjects | Three pathways at Grade 10: STEM, Social Sciences, Arts |
| Practical skills | Limited — mostly theoretical | Central — competency demonstration required |
Which System Is Your Child In
If your child is currently in any Kenyan public or private school following the national curriculum, they are in CBE. The last cohort of 8-4-4 students are currently in Form 3 and will sit their final KCSE examinations in 2027. After that, 8-4-4 is fully retired.
Related Guides
- CBC vs CBE in Kenya: What Actually Changed and What Stayed the Same
- CBE Grading Explained: What BE, AE, ME and EE Mean
- How Senior School Placement Works in Kenya
The Bottom Line
Two systems, not three. 8-4-4 is being retired. CBC was renamed CBE in 2025. If your child is in Grades 1 to 12 today, they are in CBE. The name changed. The curriculum did not. Your older child's experience under 8-4-4 is a different system entirely — and the differences in assessment, structure and pathway choice are significant.