Kenya for the first time is going to take part in global education test arena by involving in a global assessment that goes beyond the classroom to the extent to which students can implement what they have learned in the real world.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) confirmed that the country will participate in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) an international testing program conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The examination to be conducted in September 2025, by 15- and 16-year-old students from sampled schools across the country.But it’s not like the usual exam.
“PISA is different. It doesn’t just ask what students know it asks what they can do with that knowledge,” said a KNEC official familiar with the programme.
The students will be tested in science, mathematics, and reading, with a strong focus on problem-solving and practical reasoning a departure from the traditional rote memorization system that has pervaded Kenya’s education system for decades.
KNEC says this is well-timed, especially now that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is well-settled.
CBC, just like PISA, is about using knowledge practically in the world and not piling facts into their heads to pass high-stakes exams.
“This gives us a chance to see how our learners stack up globally and whether CBC is truly preparing them for today’s world,” the official added.
Only a sample of schools will be involved in the exercise, but the findings could have ripple effects across the entire education sector from curriculum reviews to teacher training and how schools are resourced.
Education experts say the results will give policymakers hard data on whether Kenya’s reforms are moving in the right direction or if critical gaps remain.
KNEC has called on teachers, parents, school heads, and even county education officers to take time to understand the goals of the assessment and support its rollout.
“It’s not just about the test. It’s about taking a good, honest look at how we’re preparing our children for the future,” said the official.
Preparations are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with training for personnel and identification of the schools that will participate.
For Kenya, a country long focused on national exams like KCPE and KCSE, joining PISA marks a shift toward a broader, more global view of education one that values not just what students know, but how they think.
