The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is set to close applications today for teachers seeking training in writing examination and assessment items under the Competency-Based Assessment framework. The training, scheduled for October 12 to 30, targets qualified teachers at Senior School and vocational levels. This programme aims to equip them with skills to develop quality test items for competency-based assessment.
KNEC chief executive officer David Njengere stated that the programme is part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of teachers and teacher educators in classroom and national assessment while maintaining examination and assessment standards. The online training is open to teachers currently teaching the subject or learning area for which they are applying. Applicants must have an unblemished professional record and demonstrate integrity.
To be eligible, applicants must possess relevant academic and professional qualifications in their subject or learning area and be subject specialists or professionals qualified to teach the area for which they are seeking training. They must also be conversant with the relevant curriculum designs. Additionally, KNEC requires applicants to have at least one year of teaching experience and be registered with the Teachers Service Commission.
Applications must be formally recommended by the head of the applicant's institution. Njengere mentioned that teachers who successfully complete the training will be certified and may subsequently be engaged by KNEC in assessment-related activities when the need arises. The council is mandated to set and maintain national examination and assessment standards at school, post-school, and teacher education levels.
The training is intended to support effective evaluation of learner competencies. Applications should be submitted online through the KNEC examiners application portal by the end of today. Teachers who have already been trained by KNEC in item writing are advised not to apply. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified, with further details on the application process available on the KNEC website.
This training comes as KNEC prepares for the 2026 examination season, during which the council will administer national examinations and assessments to about 3.6 million candidates. Registration for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) reached a historic 1.04 million candidates, crossing the one-million mark for the first time.
KNEC will also administer the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6 and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade 9 learners, while overseeing Grade 10 school-based assessments. The council continues to ensure that examination and assessment standards are upheld across various educational levels in Kenya.
Key points
- The Kenya National Examinations Council's training aims to equip teachers with skills to develop quality test items for competency-based assessment.
- Applicants must have at least one year of teaching experience and be registered with the Teachers Service Commission.
- The council will administer national examinations and assessments to about 3.6 million candidates in the 2026 examination season.
