KNEC recruits assessors for 2026 KCSE oral, practical exams

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has launched the recruitment of assessors for the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) oral and practical examination papers, inviting qualified secondary school teachers and college tutors to apply.

The council said the selected professionals will be engaged in the assessment of oral and practical examination papers and will receive on-the-job training during the marking process to equip them with the required assessment skills.

KNEC said applications are being received online through its careers portal, with the recruitment exercise targeting teachers and tutors who are not already enlisted in the council's database of assessors.

"Teachers/Tutors who are already in the KNEC database of assessors need not apply," the council said in a notice.

Interested applicants have until July 15, 2026, to submit their applications through the KNEC website.

The recruitment forms part of the council's preparations for the administration of the 2026 KCSE examinations, which will be the second-last cohort under the long-running 8-4-4 education system.

The 2027 KCSE examination is expected to mark the final sitting of the national examination under the 8-4-4 curriculum, bringing to a close more than four decades of the education system before Kenya fully transitions to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) pathway.

As part of preparations for that final KCSE cohort, KNEC has also announced a final opportunity for candidates who do not hold Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) certificates or equivalent qualifications to become eligible for the 2027 KCSE examination.

The council said it will administer the KCSE Qualifying Test (QT) in September 2026 for prospective 2027 KCSE candidates who lack KCPE or equivalent primary school qualifications.

According to KNEC, the results of the qualifying test will be used to determine eligibility for registration for the 2027 KCSE examination.

The qualifying test is expected to benefit learners who have pursued alternative education pathways or otherwise missed obtaining the primary school certification required for KCSE registration.

This will ensure they have a final opportunity to sit the national examination before the country completes the transition to the Competency-Based Education system.

The ongoing recruitment of assessors is among the key logistical preparations by KNEC as it readies the examination process, particularly for oral and practical subjects that require specialised marking by trained professionals.

the 2026-27 financial year, the National Treasury has proposed an allocation of Sh9.9 billion to KNEC for the administration of national examinations, a sharp increase from Sh5.9 billion allocated in 2025–26.

The amount is expected to facilitate the council to manage the administraion of this year's national exams and potentially clear outstanding payments owed to examiners who managed last year's exams.