When KNEC (Kenya National Examinations Council) started pinging teachers’ phones in early July, the buzz was unmistakable: the new Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) examiner training was finally moving from paperwork to reality.
Invitations went out on July 28, 2025, directing shortlisted teachers to report to Murang'a Teachers Training College (TTC) on 3 August 2025. The message, delivered via SMS, also spelled out a KES 10,500 fee that each participant must settle before the residential program kicks off. The training will run until 12 August, after which the newly‑minted examiners will be deployed to mark the KJSEA exams slated for 27 October to 3 November 2025.
The KJSEA was introduced by the Ministry of Education in April 2025 as a unified national assessment for Grade 9 learners across Kenya. Unlike the fragmented regional tests of the past, KJSEA comprises twelve papers covering core subjects and aims to provide a single, comparable metric for secondary school placement.
Earlier this year, Paul Mutiso, the council’s Training Coordinator, told reporters that “the quality of the examiner pool is the single most important factor in preserving the credibility of the assessment.”
The August session blends online modules with a strict residential component. Participants will spend mornings in a virtual classroom reviewing marking schemes, while afternoons are reserved for hands‑on sessions at Murang'a TTC.
The curriculum covers seven examination papers:
Each paper will be unpacked by subject‑matter experts who walk trainees through common pitfalls, the use of standardised rubrics, and the digital marking platform that KNEC will deploy for the October‑November window.
Only teachers who hold at least a diploma in education and have a minimum of three years teaching experience are eligible. The KES 10,500 fee—covering accommodation, meals, training materials and a certified participation certificate—is payable once applicants receive the SMS notice.
Applicants must confirm their attendance by emailing [email protected] no later than 2 August 2025. Failure to reply will automatically forfeit the slot, which will then be offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.
Murang'a TTC, situated about 100 km north‑east of Nairobi, will host up to 80 teachers. The venue’s residential halls have been retrofitted with high‑speed internet to support the hybrid model. Participants are instructed to bring personal effects, a passport‑size photograph for an identification tag, and any medication they may need.
Security personnel and health officers will be on standby, reflecting KNEC’s commitment to a safe training environment amid lingering concerns about COVID‑19 variants.
With the examiner pool set to be finalised by early September, KNEC expects a smoother marking process for the twelve papers that will be administered to roughly 1.2 million Grade 9 learners. Historically, marking delays have pushed results into the following academic year, disrupting student transitions. By front‑loading examiner preparation, the council hopes to release results within six weeks of the last exam date.
Education analyst Dr. Grace Nandutu from the University of Nairobi notes that “a well‑trained examiner cadre not only speeds up grading but also reduces scoring inconsistencies that have plagued past national exams.”
After the August session, KNEC will run a brief evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the hybrid format. Lessons learned will feed into the next round of examiner training slated for February 2026, ahead of the next KJSEA cycle.
Meanwhile, teachers who missed the August window can keep an eye on the council’s portal for future announcements. The overarching goal remains clear: a transparent, merit‑based assessment that fairly ranks Kenya’s next generation of secondary school candidates.
Teachers must hold at least a diploma in education, have three years of teaching experience, and be shortlisted by KNEC. The training fee of KES 10,500 applies only to those who receive the SMS invitation.
The amount includes accommodation, meals, training materials, access to the online marking platform, and a certified participation certificate issued by KNEC.
The residential training runs from 3 August to 12 August 2025 at Murang'a Teachers Training College in Murang'a, Kenya.
A better‑prepared examiner pool should speed up marking, reduce inconsistencies, and enable KNEC to release results within six weeks after the final exam on 3 November 2025.
Participants need personal effects, a passport‑size photograph for the ID tag, any required medication, and proof of payment for the training fee.
Edward Garza
October 7, 2025 AT 04:58Looks like KNEC finally got its act together.