Nyeri National Polytechnic has become a trailblazer in Kenya’s technical education sector by pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline its examination cycle. Through the development and deployment of an AI-powered Assessment Generating System (AGEX), the institution is significantly reducing the time, workload, and cost involved in creating credible assessments.
For years, the examination process was largely manual, with trainers and industry experts spending countless hours setting and validating over 8,400 assessment tools annually. This involved assembling panels, reviewing curriculum guidelines, and producing both Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) and End-of-Term Examinations. The only digitized element was typesetting and printing.
That changed four months ago when the institution partnered with a local developer to build AGEX. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on web-sourced data, AGEX is trained using internal content such as course units, occupational standards from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), and trainer-developed learning guides. The system generates assessment tools and marking schemes with just a prompt and tailored configurations, ensuring content remains within curriculum bounds.
Alias Gitau, the Examination Registrar, describes AGEX as a game-changer. It intelligently adjusts language complexity based on academic levels and enables continuous refining until high-quality tools are produced. Moderation remains a manual step, ensuring the final output aligns with institutional standards.
Beyond generating exams, AGEX is being adapted to automate timetable creation and assessment analytics. This would support data-driven decision-making by producing performance and enrollment reports that would otherwise take days to compile manually.
Dr. David Mwangi, the Polytechnic’s Principal, highlights the financial impact of AGEX. Previously, the institution spent about Sh7 million per term—Sh21 million annually—on exam tool creation. With AGEX, this cost is expected to drop to under Sh2 million per year.
By embracing AI, Nyeri National Polytechnic is not only improving efficiency and quality in examinations but also setting a precedent for innovation in Kenya’s higher education sector.
