Artificial intelligence to replace Knec Examiners in Marking National Exams
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A proposed legislative measure, the Kenya National Education Assessments Council (KNEAC) Bill 2025, aims to reform the examination assessment framework within basic education, teacher training, and post-secondary education. This Bill intends to incorporate Artificial Intelligence into the examination marking process nationwide.
The legislation will empower the Council to establish guidelines and tools for the evaluation and scoring of both formative and summative assessments, which encompass various assessment modalities such as oral, aural, practical, projects, practicum, and others.
According to the Bill, the Council may periodically implement diverse marking and scoring methodologies, including traditional pen-and-paper marking, electronic marking, digital capture of scores, automated marking systems (Automark), optical mark recognition (OMR), AI-driven marking, and any other methods deemed suitable.
Post-evaluation, the Bill stipulates that the assessor, in collaboration with the headteacher, school principal, and college principal, will ensure that all registered candidates are accounted for and that their assessment scores are duly uploaded onto the designated platform.
The Council is tasked with developing and administering proportional mechanisms for assessing and scoring candidates or learners in accordance with a stage-based pathway. Additionally, the Council will appoint a chief examiner or assessor-in-charge, an assistant chief examiner, a deputy, a team leader, and an examiner.
The Bill also proposes stringent penalties for violations of the code of conduct concerning the handling of examination materials. It prescribes a penalty of up to ten years of imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Ksh. 2 million for individuals who unlawfully access examination materials before or during an assessment. Similarly, it mandates the same penalties for those who negligently or intentionally assist candidates in obtaining unauthorized access to assessment papers.
Furthermore, individuals who, without lawful authority, alter the Council’s records related to assessments or assessment results for candidates may face imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding Ksh. 1 million. The Bill also seeks to revoke the existing regulations governing the marking and release of results by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
