Turkana County Transforms Early Childhood Education with Digital Assessment Training
Lodwar, 25 February 2026
Education officers in Kenya’s second-largest county have completed groundbreaking digital literacy training that could revolutionise how young children are assessed in schools. The five-day programme, supported by UNICEF and delivered in Lodwar, introduces Competency-Based Assessment techniques designed to replace traditional exam-focused evaluation with child-centred approaches. This development particularly benefits refugee populations in Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements, where enhanced early childhood services could significantly improve educational foundations. The training adopts a holistic assessment method that reduces pressure on young learners whilst building teacher capacity across Turkana’s expanding network of over 1,000 early childhood centres serving more than 139,000 children.
Training Programme Details and Implementation
The intensive training programme concluded on 24th February 2026, targeting Turkana County Early Childhood Education Officers and Refugee Curriculum Support Officers [1]. The programme was facilitated by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), adopting a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) approach to maximise reach and impact [1]. Participants received comprehensive instruction on the Basic Education Curriculum Framework and the CBA framework, equipping them with essential knowledge to transform assessment practices across the county’s educational landscape [1].
Focus on Competency-Based Assessment Over Traditional Methods
Chief Officer for ECDE and Social Protection, Paul Lodung’a, acknowledged that Competency-Based Education (CBE) and Competency-Based Training (CBT) represent significant gaps in Turkana despite being essential components of quality education [1]. The training emphasises a holistic and learner-centred approach to assessment that avoids placing learners under pressure or unhealthy competition [1]. UNICEF Education Specialist Agnes Ngonyo stressed the importance of building a strong foundation in CBE before advancing to digital literacy integration, explaining that CBE focuses on competencies and value-based assessment rather than exam-driven evaluation [1].
Expanding Educational Infrastructure and Local Support
Under Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai’s leadership, Turkana County has established more than 1,000 ECDE centres serving over 139,000 learners [4]. This expansion includes capacity-building programmes for teachers and improved nutrition initiatives that link local farmers’ produce to school feeding programmes [4]. The Morulem Irrigation Scheme Cooperative Society, which has grown from 500 to 3,500 members since its founding in 2019, has proposed supplying locally grown Ikosi sorghum porridge to ECDE centres, creating a sustainable market for their produce whilst supporting child nutrition [4].
Practical Applications and Future Impact
The training programme will enable teachers to interpret curriculum designs for pre-primary education, develop CBA tools, support learners’ social and emotional development, and improve learner progress reporting [1]. This child-centred and play-based learning approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional assessment methods [1]. The initiative creates particular benefits for refugee communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements, where enhanced ECDE services could significantly improve educational foundations and future academic pathways for vulnerable children [1]. Governor Lomurukai has committed to continued resource allocation for expanding ECDE facilities, improving staffing, and enhancing feeding programmes, describing the initiative as “a win-win for our children and our farmers” [4].