Question 1

What is DARASA?

Accepted Answer

DARASA is an all-in-one classroom management app for Kenyan teachers. It combines a gradebook, lesson planner, AI marking scheme generator, class teacher tools, and parent messaging in one web app, for CBC and 8-4-4 classes from pre-primary to Form 4. It is made by Vertex Tech Solutions, and it saves your work on your device first so a weak signal does not cost you your marks.

Question 2

How much does DARASA cost?

Accepted Answer

Right now, DARASA is completely free for every teacher until 1 January 2027, with full access and no card needed. After that, every account starts with a 7-day free trial with full access, and you can then continue on the free Standard plan or subscribe: Ksh 450 a month, Ksh 1,150 a term, or Ksh 3,100 a year. You can pay by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or bank transfer.

Question 3

How much does DARASA cost after January 2027?

Accepted Answer

Until 1 January 2027 DARASA is free for every teacher, with full access and no card needed. After that, every account starts with a 7-day free trial with full access, and you can then continue on the free Standard plan or subscribe: Ksh 450 a month, Ksh 1,150 a term, or Ksh 3,100 a year. You can pay by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or bank transfer.

Question 4

How do I sign up for DARASA?

Accepted Answer

Tap Sign In or Get Free Full Access, choose to create an account, and register with your email and a password, or with your Google account. If you use email, DARASA sends a 6-digit code to confirm it. Signing up takes under a minute, with no card and no school approval needed. Then add your classes — type in your streams and students, or upload a class list (PDF or Word) and check it before importing — and you can start straight away.

Question 5

Does DARASA support both CBC and 8-4-4?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can mark each class as CBC or 8-4-4, from pre-primary to Form 4, and DARASA grades, plans, and reports for that class accordingly. CBC classes are graded by strand and sub-strand, and 8-4-4 classes by subject and exam score. Lesson plans and schemes of work follow the same split: CBC uses strands, sub-strands, and key inquiry questions, while 8-4-4 uses topics and sub-topics. Many schools are running both until the last 8-4-4 cohorts finish Form Four, so you can teach both in one account.

Question 6

Which grades and levels does DARASA support?

Accepted Answer

DARASA has 16 levels built in: Pre-Primary 1 and 2, Grades 1 to 12 for CBC, and Forms 3 and 4 for the 8-4-4 classes still running. When you create a class you pick its level, and DARASA sets CBC or 8-4-4 for you. Official KICD strand and sub-strand data is built in for selected learning areas from Pre-Primary to Grade 5. For other levels DARASA drafts lesson plans and schemes of work with AI, which you review and adjust.

Question 7

How do I generate a marking scheme in DARASA?

Accepted Answer

Open AI Marking, name the exam, choose the subject and the curriculum (CBC or 8-4-4), then either paste the questions in or upload a photo, PDF, or Word file of the paper. DARASA reads the questions, works out the answers step by step, and drafts a marking scheme with the correct answers, the mark breakdown, and common mistakes, built around Kenyan marking conventions for the subject. Review and adjust it, then download it as a PDF. It takes minutes instead of the hours it takes to write one by hand.

Question 8

What subjects does the AI marking scheme generator support?

Accepted Answer

You choose one of your subjects or type in any subject name, and DARASA picks a marking style to suit it: method and accuracy marks (M, A, B) for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry; point marking for Biology, Agriculture, and Home Science; rubric marking for English and Kiswahili compositions and essays; point and essay marking for History, Geography, CRE/IRE/HRE, and Business Studies; and competency-based rubrics (EE, ME, AE, BE) for CBC subjects such as Integrated Science and Pre-Technical Studies. It works for both CBC and 8-4-4 classes. Always review the scheme before you mark from it.

Question 9

How accurate is the AI marking scheme generator?

Accepted Answer

It works out the answers and mark breakdowns using AI, built around Kenyan marking conventions, but AI can make mistakes — especially with unclear photos or diagrams. Treat the scheme as a strong first draft: check it against your own knowledge and adjust anything before you mark from it. Clear photos and complete questions give better results.

Question 10

Does DARASA work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once DARASA is open. Your changes are saved on your device first and sync to the cloud automatically when you're back online, so a dropped signal doesn't cost you your work. Open DARASA while you have a connection, then keep going. You do need internet to sign in, to sync across devices, and for the AI tools such as the marking scheme generator and schemes of work.

Question 11

What happens to my data if I lose internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is lost. Changes you make offline are kept on your device and sync to your account automatically when you reconnect. Anything already synced is stored in your account, so it is safe if your phone is lost or replaced: sign in on another device and it is there. Changes that have not synced yet exist only on that device, so reconnect regularly and avoid clearing your browser data before you do.

Question 12

Does DARASA work on Android phones?

Accepted Answer

Yes. DARASA is a web app, so it works in the browser on Android phones and other mobile devices, as well as tablets and computers. There is nothing to download from an app store: open it in Chrome or another modern browser, sign in, and your classes are there on every device.

Question 13

Can I use DARASA on my phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because DARASA runs in the browser, you can use the same account on your phone, a tablet, and a school or personal computer. It needs a connection to sign in and sync, and then keeps working offline while it is open.

Question 14

What is included in the lesson planner?

Accepted Answer

Four tools in one place. Lesson plans: CBC plans use the strand, sub-strand, learning outcomes, and a key inquiry question, while 8-4-4 plans use topic and sub-topic, each with an introduction, lesson development, conclusion, resources, assignments, and a self-evaluation. Schemes of work: draft a term with AI from the official KICD strands where they are available, then edit and download it as a PDF. A Monday-to-Friday weekly timetable. And a school calendar for term dates, national exams, activities, and holidays. You can also upload lesson plans, timetables, or calendars you already have.

Question 15

How do I grade CBC learners?

Accepted Answer

CBC grading is based on the strands and sub-strands in KICD's curriculum designs, not a single exam mark. For each one you record how the learner is performing using the performance levels: Exceeding Expectation (EE), Meeting Expectation (ME), Approaching Expectation (AE), or Below Expectation (BE). In DARASA, mark a class as CBC and the gradebook is organised by strand and sub-strand for you.

Question 16

What is the difference between CBC and 8-4-4?

Accepted Answer

8-4-4 is the older structure — 8 years of primary, 4 of secondary, and 4 of university — with learners graded mostly on periodic exams, building up to KCSE. CBC (the competency-based curriculum) follows a 2-6-3-3-3 structure and assesses learners continuously against strands and sub-strands using performance levels instead of one exam score. Many schools are still running both, which is why DARASA lets you choose CBC or 8-4-4 class by class.

Question 17

How do I create CBC schemes of work?

Accepted Answer

A scheme of work maps out a term week by week: the strand and sub-strand, specific learning outcomes, key inquiry question, learning experiences, resources, and assessment. In DARASA, choose the class and subject and the scheme-of-work tool drafts each week using KICD's official strands and sub-strands where they're available, which you can then review, edit, and download. 8-4-4 classes get schemes of work in the topic and sub-topic format.

Question 18

How do I message parents through DARASA?

Accepted Answer

First save each parent's phone number or email in the student's record (Kenyan numbers like 0712 345 678 are converted to international format for you). Then open the class teacher hub and go to Message Parents, select students or leave none selected to message the whole class, choose WhatsApp, SMS, or Email, and pick a template (general update, meeting invitation, fee reminder, or performance concern) or type your own message. For WhatsApp and SMS you tap the link for each parent and your own app opens with the message ready; for email, one message opens addressed to the selected parents. You press send.

Question 19

Can I message parents through DARASA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From a student's record or the class teacher hub, you can message one parent, selected parents, or the whole class on WhatsApp, SMS, or email, using templates for general updates, meeting invitations, fee reminders, and performance concerns. DARASA opens your own WhatsApp, SMS, or email app with the message ready, so you review it and press send yourself. You don't need a WhatsApp Business account, and DARASA doesn't sell SMS credits — your normal messaging rates apply.

Question 20

Is my student data safe in DARASA?

Accepted Answer

Each teacher's data is private to their own account and protected by access controls in the database, so other teachers cannot see your students' names, marks, or parent contacts. Uploaded resources are kept in private storage. When you use the AI tools, the exam content you upload is sent to third-party AI providers (Cerebras and/or OpenRouter) to generate the scheme, so leave learners' personal details out of exam papers. Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect, who we work with, your rights under Kenya's Data Protection Act, 2019, and how to ask for your data to be deleted.

Question 21

What can I do in the class teacher hub?

Accepted Answer

The class teacher hub keeps everything a class teacher records in one place: the class list (admission number, full name, parent contact, optional medical notes, and school status), the attendance register, performance insights, subjects and assessments, class officials, discipline records, parent and class meeting notes, and messages to parents. You can download any tab as a PDF.

Question 22

How do I set up my class teacher class?

Accepted Answer

Add the classes and subjects you teach first, in Classes. Then open Class Teacher and choose Set as My Class Teacher Class. Add your learners with their admission number, full name, and parent contact, and you can take the register, record assessments, and message parents from the same hub.

Question 23

What is the Resources library?

Accepted Answer

Resources gives each class its own shelf for revision notes, official documents, and reference materials. You file each item by category and subject, search by title, switch between grid and list views, and download any file. It sits next to your planner and gradebook, so what you teach with stays tied to the class you teach.

Question 24

What file types can I upload to Resources?

Accepted Answer

PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text, and image files. You can also write a note without a file. You need an internet connection to upload and open files.

Question 25

Are my teaching resources private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Files are kept in private storage under your account and opened through short-lived secure links. They are not public web pages.

Question 26

Can I export student grades from DARASA?

Accepted Answer

You can download PDFs from across DARASA: the gradebook for a class, class analytics, each class teacher tab (class list, performance, attendance, and more), schemes of work, and AI marking schemes. There is no CSV or Excel export of the gradebook at the moment.

Question 27

Can multiple teachers from the same school use DARASA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each teacher signs up for their own account, with no school approval needed, and each teacher's classes, students, and marks stay private to them. DARASA does not have a shared school licence or admin dashboard at the moment. If you're a head teacher or deputy head interested in DARASA for your staff, get in touch through our Contact page.

Question 28

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or bank transfer. Submit a plan request in the app and we’ll confirm your payment and activate Premium.

Question 29

Can I cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there's no lock-in contract. If you don't renew, your account simply moves to the free Standard plan.

DARASA FAQ: Your Questions Answered

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