The government is planning to introduce and use artificial intelligence (AI) to mark the exams of thousands of learners while making radical changes in the management of national exams, according to a new proposal seen by Kenyans.co.ke.
In the changes, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will be dropped and be replaced by the Kenya National Education Assessments Council (KNEAC) to encompass the recently introduced Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and other changes the government is undertaking in the education sector.
"The former Council shall continue in office for a period of not more than two months from the effective date as appointments are made to the Council, and the former Council shall for all intents and purposes be deemed the Council appointed under this Act," reads part of the proposed legislation.
The draft proposals under the Kenya National Education Assessments Council Act suggest that the government will use various marking methods, including pen-and-paper marking, e-marking, electronic capture of marks, automated marking (Automark), optical mark recognition (OMR), AI-based marking, and any other method deemed appropriate.
''The Council shall develop guidelines and tools for marking and scoring formative and summative assessments, including oral, aural, practical, projects, practicum, or any other mode of assessments,'' reads part of the provisions supporting the changes.
KNEAC Composition
KNEAC will be composed of several key individuals, with the president appointing a chairperson under Section 24. Other members will include the principal secretaries of the ministry responsible for education, the National Treasury, and the CEO of the Commission for University Education, as well as the Director of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
Additionally, the council will include the Secretary of the Teachers Service Commission, along with appointees by the Cabinet Secretary. These appointees will represent various groups, including persons with disabilities, post-schoolteacher training institutions, and the private sector involved in education management. The Chief Executive Officer will also be part of the council.
Examiners
KNEAC is set to appoint various categories of examiners and assessors, including chief examiners, senior examiners, deputy chief examiners, team leaders, and general examiners. The council will also designate an Assistant Chief Examiner or Assessor to act as a Deputy Chief Examiner where the marking of a paper is split into two assessment centres. These appointments will be made per the regulatory framework laid out in the Kenya National Education Assessments Council Act.
Additionally, the council will be responsible for providing clear guidelines for marking and scoring all examinations and assessments, defining the roles and responsibilities of each category of examiner or assessor. This includes the development and regular review of these guidelines, as well as the ongoing evaluation of examiners and assessors' duties to ensure efficiency and accuracy in the examination process.
Changes to Confirmation of Results
According to the new proposals, individuals seeking to confirm their results will have to apply to the Council for the same, after which they may be issued with the same.
Applicants seeking to confirm their results will be required to do so online in a format that will be prescribed by the council upon assumption of office.
According to the proposals, an applicant requesting confirmation of results will be required to provide several key details, including their full name, the institution they attended, the year and series of the assessment, the name of the assessment, and the learner's identification number.
Additionally, the applicant will be required to pay fees for confirming the examination results and provide the institution’s full address to which the confirmation statement will be sent.
Further to the required details, the applicant must also state the reason for requesting the confirmation of examination results. Additionally, they must provide a copy of the certificate, result slip, or results printout for the candidate whose results are being confirmed.
Once the Council receives the application along with the relevant documents, it is required to send a statement confirming the examination results within ten working days. However, the confirmation statement is strictly restricted in use; it may only be used by the institution to which it is addressed and cannot be copied or transferred to any other body or institution.
Lost Certificates
Kenyans seeking to replace lost certificates will also be required to have several key documents. These include a copy of the certificate, a results slip, or a certified examination results printout from the relevant school or educational body. Additionally, applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from the head of the institution where the examination was taken, a letter from the County Director of Education or their authorised agents for private candidates, and a police abstract indicating the loss of the certificate.
Further required documents include evidence of payment for the prescribed processing fees, a coloured passport-size photo, a copy of the national identification card, and, for minors, a birth certificate and a copy of a parent’s or guardian’s national ID or valid passport. Additionally, a letter from the registrar of persons confirming the applicant's identity is also necessary.
The examination results certification document will be verified and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Council. The certification document will be ready for collection within fifteen working days from the date the application is received, assuming all required conditions are met. Applicants will collect the certification document in person from the designated office of the Council.
Since the next series of examinations will be majorly technology-based, schools offering assessments will be required to have an important information communication technology infrastructure that includes computers with sufficient processing power, storage, and peripheral devices like printers and scanners.
Centres must also install licensed and updated software, including operating systems, assessment platforms, and security tools, while maintaining a stable and reliable internet connection for downloading assessment materials and uploading results.
Additionally, centres must have a dedicated offline server to handle e-assessment activities, ensuring data storage, processing, and backup without relying on internet connectivity. This server should be secured with strong protocols to maintain data integrity and confidentiality.
The proposed changes are undergoing public participation.
