Kenya launches standardised tool to identify gifted, talented learners

Kenya has launched a national diagnostic tool designed to provide a credible and standardised mechanism for the early identification of gifted and talented learners.

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The initiative aims to ensure that exceptional learners are recognised and supported from an early age, maximising their potential for personal and societal benefit.

State Department of Basic Education PS Prof Julius Bitok noted that for too long, gifted and talented learners in Kenya have not been fully identified or appropriately nurtured.

He warned that the country is “consistently on the losing end of giftedness and talentedness,” as some of the brightest minds are either recruited by more advanced systems abroad or drop out of school, sometimes turning to crime, drugs, or street life.

“We are not just launching another government document. We are launching a lens that will strengthen and modernise our approach in identifying and nurturing gifted and talented learners,” Bitok said during the launch at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).

The PS emphasised the importance of early identification, stating that gifted learners must be given opportunities to develop and harness their abilities.

“The tool we are launching today is a scientifically validated, culturally responsive, and multi-modal diagnostic instrument that does not just look for the high scorer. For the first time, we have a standardised way to distinguish between a learner who is merely hardworking and a learner who is truly exceptional,” he said.

KISE Director Dr Norman Kiogora highlighted that gifted learners have historically been under-identified due to the lack of a standardised diagnostic framework.

“While exceptional ability was frequently visible, the absence of a standardised diagnostic framework meant that identification was inconsistent and largely subjective,” he said.

Kiogora explained that the new diagnostic tool captures giftedness across multiple domains, including intellectual, academic, creative, leadership, artistic, and psychomotor abilities.

“Through this standardized approach, the identification of giftedness becomes consistent, equitable, and professionally grounded,” he said.

The development of the tool was a deliberate seven-year, multi-agency process involving KISE, the Directorate of Special Needs Education, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), Kenyatta University, and Stadi za Maisha.

“The diagnostic tool we launch today is the result of a deliberate, seven-year, multi-agency process that began in 2019,” Kiogora said.

He added that its implementation will be anchored in Educational Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs) nationwide to ensure decentralised access and national reach.

All assessments will be conducted by trained professionals following strict ethical standards, data protection principles, confidentiality, parental involvement, and the best interests of the learner.

“KISE is ready to operationalise the Gifted and Talented Diagnostic Tool through trained personnel and professionals, standardized procedures, and our national network of EARCs,” Kiogora said.

He added that rollout will proceed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, county governments, and partner agencies to integrate the tool within existing education systems.

The initiative is expected to transform Kenya’s approach to nurturing exceptional talent, offering a structured and scientifically backed method to identify and support gifted learners across the country.