PSL Term 1 2026: National assessment insights

How learners performed nationally

The Term 1 national report summarises competency bands for Grades 4–9 (upper primary and junior secondary in the assessment design). Overall cohort distribution:

• Excellent (75%+): 7.4%
• Good (50–74%): 30.2%
• Fair (25–49%): 43.7%
• Needs support (<25%): 18.7%

Illustrative band widths · Excellent through Needs support

Spotlight: learning areas & counties

Kiswahili shows strong national excellence rates (learners scoring 75%+), including about 62% at Grade 4 and up to about 66% on Kiswahili Karatasi ya 1 at Grade 9 in the national summary. English and Science & Technology also feature strongly in county leader tables — Embu and Kisumu appear repeatedly among top performers by learning area.

Mathematics registers lower shares in the excellent band nationally (for example 27–50% across grades in the report), signalling a clear priority for targeted support — consistent with the report's note that significant national challenges were identified across multiple performance levels.

Top counties by overall national score

The report ranks counties by composite national score (points). The top five:

1. Embu — 58 points
2. Kisumu — 57 points
3. Mombasa — 47 points
4. Kakamega — 46 points
5. Kilifi — 45 points

County and learning-area tables in the full national report support school-level benchmarking and regional collaboration.