KNEC chief executive David Njegere. /KNECThe Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has invited qualified teachers at the Senior School and vocational levels to apply for training in item writing for Competency-Based Assessment.
The online training will run from October 12 to 30, 2026, and will focus on equipping teachers with skills to develop quality test items for competency-based assessment.
KNEC chief executive officer David Njengere said the programme is part of efforts to strengthen teachers’ and teacher educators’ capacity in classroom and national assessment while maintaining examination and assessment standards.
The training is open to teachers currently teaching the subject for which they are applying at either Senior School or vocational level under the stage-based curriculum.
Applicants must have an unblemished professional record and demonstrate integrity, as well as possess relevant academic and professional qualifications in their subject or learning area.
They must also be subject specialists or professionals qualified to teach the area for which they seek training and be conversant with the relevant curriculum designs.
KNEC requires applicants to have at least one year of teaching experience and to be registered with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Applications must also be formally recommended by the head of the applicant’s institution.
Njengere said 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, which is mandated to set and maintain national examination and assessment standards at school, post-school and teacher education levels, said the training is intended to support effective evaluation of learner competencies.
Teachers who have previously undergone KNEC training in item writing have been advised not to apply.
Eligible teachers should submit their applications online through the KNEC examiners application portal by September 30, 2026.
Further details on the application process are available on the KNEC website.
Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.
The training comes as KNEC prepares to administer KCSE national exams and assessments for the 2026 examination season to a record 3.6 million candidates.
Registration for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) reached a historic milestone of 1.04 million candidates, crossing the one-million mark for the first time in history.
The council will also administer simultaneously the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA (Grade 6) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for the Grade Grade 9 learners, as well as oversee the Grade 10 school-based assessments.
