NAIROBI — Kenya will officially take part in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the first time this September, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) confirmed Monday. The move signals a major step in the country’s efforts to improve education quality and align student learning with global standards.
The international assessment, coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), will evaluate how 15- and 16-year-old learners apply core knowledge in reading, mathematics, and science to practical, real-world problems. PISA currently involves over 90 countries.
Kenya’s participation comes as the Ministry of Education pushes forward with Competency-Based Education (CBE) reforms, which emphasize skill-building and real-life application over rote learning. According to KNEC, this debut will help the country gauge where it stands globally and identify areas for improvement in teaching and policy.
“PISA offers a unique opportunity to compare our learners’ outcomes with international benchmarks,” KNEC said in a statement. “The data will help guide policy decisions, curriculum review, teacher development, and education investments.”
Only a selected group of students and schools will be sampled in the assessment. However, KNEC noted that findings from the test will inform reforms throughout the education system.
The test, set to begin in September 2025, will focus on the depth of understanding rather than content memorization. It aims to assess how students use knowledge in daily situations an approach that mirrors the CBE framework already in place in Kenya.
KNEC urged school heads, teachers, parents, and communities to embrace the initiative and help prepare students. “Kenya is ready. Our learners are capable. Let’s support them!” the council stated.
This participation marks Kenya’s entry into a global education league table that has influenced education policy in countries across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. For Kenya, the assessment offers an opportunity to identify strengths and gaps in its education sector amid ongoing curriculum changes.
Education analysts see this move as part of a broader commitment to ensure Kenyan students are prepared for a rapidly changing world and are able to compete in both local and global job markets.
Kenya’s PISA results are expected to be released in 2026.
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