EARC Assessment Kenya: 7 Steps to Get Your Child Assessed

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026

An EARC assessment Kenya parents can request is the government’s way of finding out how a child with a disability or learning difficulty learns best, and where they should be placed. Educational Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs) are run in the counties, with the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) in Kasarani acting as the national referral centre. This guide takes you through the process step by step, from the first phone call to using the report at school and in national exams.

On this page

1. What Is an EARC?
2. Who Should Get an EARC Assessment?
3. EARC Assessment Kenya: 7 Steps
4. What to Bring on the Day
5. How Much Does It Cost?
6. Using the EARC Report
7. Practical Tips Before You Go
8. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an EARC?

The Basic Education Act, 2013 (section 46) gives every County Education Board a duty to provide education assessment and resource centres, including a special needs service. The law lists their work as studying children with special educational needs in the county, advising parents and teachers on suitable methods of education, and advising the Board on each child’s needs.

In practice, EARC officers are education staff, often based at sub-county education offices. Some centres have a wider team with therapists, audiologists or psychologists. KISE has set up 10 EARC centres of excellence in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu, Embu, Garissa, Nyeri and Machakos, according to the KISE functional assessment page.

Who Should Get an EARC Assessment?

Consider an assessment if your child:

• has a known condition such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, hearing loss or low vision;
• is far behind classmates in reading, writing or numbers despite steady teaching;
• has speech, attention or behaviour difficulties that affect learning;
• is a KNEC candidate who may need accommodations in KPSEA, KJSEA or KCSE.

Gifted and talented learners also fall under special needs in the Act, though most EARC work focuses on disability and learning difficulty.

EARC Assessment Kenya: 7 Steps

1. Talk to the class teacher. Ask what they see in class and whether the school can write a short referral letter. A teacher’s observations strengthen the assessment.
2. Find your nearest EARC. Ask at the sub-county education office or the county director of education’s office. In Nairobi you can also go to KISE in Kasarani, which takes bookings online through its website or in person (assessment line +254 111 055816, as listed by KISE).
3. Book a date. Ask how long the session takes, what the child should bring, and whether any fee applies.
4. Gather documents. See the checklist below.
5. Attend the assessment. KISE describes the process as an initial consultation followed by evaluation by specialists. Areas can include vision, hearing, physical function, cognition, communication and psychosocial needs.
6. Collect the written report. It should describe your child’s strengths and needs and recommend placement, support and therapy.
7. Share and follow up. Give copies to the school, agree on an individualised education plan (IEP) and ask for a review date.

What to Bring on the Day

• Birth certificate or birth notification.
• Clinic card and any hospital or specialist reports (eye, ear, neurology, paediatric).
• Recent school reports and a few exercise books.
• A referral letter from the school if you have one.
• Your own notes: when you first noticed concerns, what helps, what makes things worse.
• Snacks, water and a favourite toy. Waiting can be long and a calm child shows their real ability.

How Much Does It Cost?

Cost worries put many families off an EARC assessment. Kenya has free options: on its EARC services page, KISE says most services are free while some need a nominal fee, with details given at enrolment. Private psychologists and therapy centres charge their own fees. Ask before the appointment so there are no surprises.

Using the EARC Report

School placement

The report may recommend a regular class with support, a special unit, a special school or the stage-based curriculum. It is a recommendation for you to discuss, not an order. If you disagree, ask the officer to explain and request a review.

Support in class

Teachers can use the report to plan seating, extra time, oral responses, assistive devices or therapy referrals. Ask the school to write these into an IEP and review it each term.

KNEC exams

For physically and mentally impaired candidates, KNEC’s special needs form has asked for an EARC officer’s report on functional ability, alongside a head teacher’s letter and a recent doctor’s report. Our guide to KNEC special needs candidates lists the accommodations and documents.

Keep the original report safe and give out copies only. You will be asked for it again at transitions such as Grade 7 and Grade 10 placement.

Practical Tips Before You Go

• Go early in the year. Centres get busy before national exam registration.
• Ask for the report in writing before you leave, or a date to collect it.
• If the first visit is rushed or your child was unwell, ask for a second session.
• Assessments are not one-off. Ask when your child should be reassessed, especially before a change of school level.

For the bigger picture, read our special needs education guide for parents, our dyslexia signs guide and our guide to autism schools and support in Kenya.

Once you know how your child learns best, steady practice matters. The CBC Challenge offers short 10-question quizzes, and a cbcguide pass unlocks unlimited practice and revision packs for every grade.

Frequently Asked Questions