Learning · 5 min read
Making progress reports meaningful for parents
Competency-based reporting uses performance levels, not marks. Parents need help to read them — and to know what to do next.
Levels, not totals
Under Kenya’s competency-based system, learners’ achievement is reported in four performance levels: Exceeding Expectation (EE), Meeting Expectation (ME), Approaching Expectation (AE) and Below Expectation (BE). For the Grade 9 KJSEA, KNEC has reminded schools that subjects are assessed independently and that there is no aggregate mean score.
Many parents grew up with marks and positions in class, so a report full of abbreviations can feel confusing.
Three ways to make reports clearer
A good report answers three questions: where is my child now, how do you know, and how can I help?
Include a short legend that explains each level in everyday words. Add a comment or example for each learning area, not just a level. Suggest one or two simple activities parents can do at home.
Talk before the report arrives
If a learner is approaching or below expectation, a quick conversation before reports are sent avoids surprises and turns the report into a shared plan rather than a verdict.
Further reading
- Citizen Digital — KNEC on KJSEA results analysis
- The Standard — no mean scores in the new KJSEA grading
This article is general guidance, not legal or professional advice.
