Knec unveils new training centre to demystify exams

Knec Chief Executive Officer David Njengere during the Kenya National Examinations Council 2nd Annual Symposium on Competency Based Assessment at the College of Insurance, Nairobi, on April 22, 2025. [File, Standard]

Teachers and parents will be trained on modern educational assessments ahead of the launch of a new national centre by the Kenya National Examinations Council.

The Educational Assessment Resource Centre (EARC), will provide training on competency-based assessments, test construction, psychometrics and data analysis, standardised marking, quality assurance, and use of digital tools in testing.

According to Knec, all courses will be practical and hands-on, enabling participants to work with real data and real-life assessment scenarios. The centre will be officially unveiled today, and is set to revolutionise how assessments are designed, administered, and understood in schools.

The centre, located at New Mitihani House in South C, will offer a wide range of intensive courses tailored to educators and assessment professionals. "This centre will empower educators to understand assessment not just as a tool for grading, but as a powerful instrument for improving learning outcomes and informing instruction," Knec chief executive officer David Njengere said.

In addition to training teachers and examiners, the EARC has developed special programmes targeting school leadership. A course titled 'Demystifying Educational Assessments: A Leadership Perspective' will equip principals, deputy principals, and heads of departments with practical knowledge on how to interpret test data and use it to improve performance.

School leaders will learn how assessments are developed and validated, and how to foster transparency and trust in the process. Knec has also extended its training efforts to parents.

A half-day course aimed at demystifying school assessments for parents and guardians will be offered, helping them understand how exams work, how fairness is ensured, and how to interpret their children's test results. The programme is expected to promote parental involvement in learning by reducing anxiety around testing. Participants who complete the training will receive nationally recognised professional certificates.

The facility, a concept note reads, is equipped with modern digital infrastructure, training halls, and simulation rooms, and participants will have access to curated educational resources and anonymized assessment datasets to support practical learning.

Knec also says it will offer customised training programmes for institutions upon request. "This is more than just a training centre-it is a bold step toward making assessment a key driver of education reforms in Kenya," the concept note reads.

Training at the Educational Assessment Resource Centre will be delivered through a hands-on, immersive approach designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. According to Knec, educators will not only receive lectures but will also work with actual assessment data, anonymised learner scripts, and simulation tools to mimic real-life testing scenarios. The courses will be modular, allowing participants to build competencies progressively-from understanding basic principles of assessment to mastering advanced skills like psychometric analysis, digital test design, and quality assurance techniques.

Trainees will also engage in peer collaboration exercises, case studies, and role-play simulations of marking and moderation sessions.

"The idea is to take assessment out of the abstract and make it something teachers can confidently apply in their day-to-day teaching," a section of the concept note reads.

A team of Knec experts and external facilitators-including psychometricians, curriculum developers, and data analysts-will lead the sessions.

Participants will use modern tools such as item banking software, digital dashboards for monitoring learner progress, and AI scoring systems.