KNEC calls for digital investment in ASAL schools

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is advocating for increased investment in digital skills and foundational learning within Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) schools. Muktar Abdi Ogle, Head and Coordinator of KNEC’s National Assessment Centre, warned that without prioritizing literacy and numeracy, children in these regions risk being excluded from future job markets.

ASAL counties, which comprise approximately 80–89 per cent of Kenya’s land mass, face significant challenges including teacher shortages, weak electricity, and limited internet access. The 2025 Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (FLANA) indicated that school dropout rates are heavily concentrated in these areas, with Garissa recording a 27.3 per cent rate.

In a separate initiative to support the transition to Competency-Based Assessment (CBA), KNEC has launched a training programme for senior secondary and vocational teachers. Scheduled for October 2026, the training focuses on examination item writing to ensure assessments effectively measure practical skills, knowledge, and attitudes rather than relying solely on traditional written exams.