The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced plans to start digital assessments in senior schools from 2027. This move marks a major shift from the traditional paper-based exams that Kenyan students have been used to for many years.
According to KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere, the decision comes after a successful trial of e-assessment in teacher-training colleges. Over the past three years, more than 37,000 trainees have been examined digitally and have graduated. Njengere explained that the new system will help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide real-time data to track student performance. This will make it easier to identify learners who need early support.
The digital exams will first be rolled out in senior schools so that any problems can be identified and fixed before the system is used nationwide. Njengere added that this plan is in line with the ICT in Education and Training Policy (2021) and the National Education Sector Strategic Plan (2023). The goal is to help Kenyan students keep up with global digital changes.
One of the biggest advantages of the digital system is that it can support learners with special needs. Adaptive technologies like audio-visual and voice-assisted formats will be used to make exams more inclusive. The system will also help improve digital literacy among students. KNEC officials noted that many young people only get to use technology for the first time during national exams, and this initiative will change that.
Other benefits include remote marking, faster release of results, and better decision-making through automated analytics. However, KNEC has admitted that there are challenges. These include a lack of enough ICT infrastructure in schools, low typing skills among students, and risks related to cybersecurity and cheating.
To deal with these challenges, the council plans to use lockdown browsers, restricted networks, and offline exam modes. These tools will help prevent unauthorised access and cheating during assessments.
KNEC’s digital journey has grown quickly. The initiative started as a pilot with just 45 candidates in 2021. By 2025, it has expanded to over 50,000 candidates across more than 100 learning institutions. With the 2027 target for senior schools, Kenya is taking a bold step toward modernising its education system.
