The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued fresh instructions for schools and students ahead of a major global education test, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
The test will start in September 2025 and will involve 15-year-old learners in Grade 7 and above. KNEC said this age group was chosen because most students are almost done with compulsory schooling, making it a good time to see how well they are learning.
PISA is different from normal exams. It tests how students use their knowledge in science, maths, and reading to solve real-life problems.
Kenya will be among more than 90 countries taking part in the study, which is run by the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to compare education systems around the world.
More than 250 schools, both junior and secondary, have been picked for the test. The selection was done using fair sampling methods to represent the whole country, including schools in remote and marginalized areas. In each school, up to 42 students will be chosen to take part.
The test will be done on computers, which is the standard PISA method worldwide. KNEC will provide laptops for the students. Teachers may also help with tasks such as marking open-ended answers.
According to KNEC, the results will help determine what works well in Kenya’s education system and where improvements are needed to be done
The findings will guide changes in the curriculum, teacher training, and how resources are shared among schools.
The main testing examinations will take place in September 2025, with results expected to come out in 2026. KNEC will update the public on the progress.