The Kenya National Examinations Council(KNEC) will begin introducing computer-based assessments in senior schools from 2027, extending a digital testing model that has already been used in teacher training institutions.
The plan places the transition to online examinations at the centre of Kenya’s broader education technology agenda, with the council arguing that digital assessment could shorten marking timelines, improve data collection and reduce some administrative costs tied to paper-based exams.
KNEC chief executive officer, David Njengere, said more than 37,000 teacher trainees have already completed examinations through the electronic assessment system during the past three years. According to the council, the programme has expanded from an initial pilot involving 45 candidates in 2021 to more than 50,000 candidates across over 100 institutions by 2025.
The agency now wants to use senior schools as the next testing ground before any wider national deployment. Officials said the phased rollout would allow the examination body to identify operational gaps and refine the system before scaling it further.
“This strategy not only ensures that all teachers are highly proficient in digital literacy but also provides an opportunity to generate personalised data useful in identifying areas of strength and weakness at trainee, college and national levels,” Njengere said.
KNEC says the digital platform could change how learner performance is monitored by producing assessment data in real time instead of waiting for manual processing after examinations end. Education officials believe the system may also support earlier academic intervention by helping schools identify weak performance patterns sooner.
The council is also positioning the move as part of a wider push to normalise technology use in classrooms and examinations. Officials noted that some learners still encounter computers for the first time during national assessments, a situation they argue affects confidence and performance.
Under the proposed framework, exam scripts could be marked remotely, while automated analytics tools would support policy planning and performance reviews. KNEC added that adaptive assessment tools are being considered for learners with special needs, including audio-supported and voice-assisted formats.
The transition, however, will depend heavily on infrastructure readiness across schools. KNEC acknowledged that limited access to ICT equipment, inconsistent internet connectivity and low typing proficiency among some learners remain major barriers.
The examination body also raised concerns around cybersecurity and exam integrity as more assessments move online. To address those risks, the council said it is considering the use of restricted networks, lockdown browsers and offline testing modes during examinations.
The digital assessment programme aligns with Kenya’s ICT in Education and Training Policy introduced in 2021 and the National Education Sector Strategic Plan released in 2023. Education authorities view the initiative as part of a longer-term effort to align the examination system with technology-driven learning environments already being adopted in other sectors.
While the first phase is expected to focus on senior schools, the rollout could eventually influence how national assessments are administered across the education system if the pilot achieves stable results.
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