An invigilator collects English Paper One answer sheets from KCSE candidates at Nakuru High School on November 4, 2024.
Parents can breathe a sigh of relief after the National Assembly allocated Sh5.9 billion for primary, junior and secondary schools national examinations.
This follows public outrage after earlier budget estimates left the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) without funding for candidates who will sit the tests.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are scheduled for September.
The National Assembly Committee on Education has proposed the reallocation of Sh5.9 billion from other budget lines in order to fund the exams. The proposal is now before the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
This comes on the back of assertions by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi that there will be a review on the approach and structure of exams management, including a rethink on who gets a government subsidy on payable fees.
“There is a proposed increment of Sh5.9 billion for examination administration and invigilation for provision for national examinations which had not been provided in the budget,” the committee said in its report on the 2025/26 budget to the BAC.
An invigilator inspects the details of KCSE candidates at St Clare Girls Secondary School in Elburgon, Nakuru County during the exercise of putting their identification stickers on lockers on October 30, 2024.
The proposed allocation will be sourced from the recurrent capitation for junior school (Sh2 billion), secondary school (Sh3 billion) and primary school (Sh900 million).
The budget requirement for administering the 2025 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examinations is Sh12.58 billion.
Budget estimates tabled before the National Assembly indicate a shortfall of Sh62 billion for the education sector with radical reduction on several budget lines that had been recommended for funding under the Budget Policy Statement.
The estimates, for instance, indicate zero funding for examinations and invigilation.
National Assembly Education Committee chairman Julius Melly had warned that the panel would not write its budget report unless funds for examinations are reinstated.
“We shall not write our report without the examination money,” he told Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok when he appeared before the committee on May 13.
The PS was directed to submit an addendum, in consultation with the Treasury, reinstating key allocations. These include monies for examination, school capitation, quality assurance and the school feeding programme.
Speaking recently, Mr Mbadi assured parents that they should not panic regarding the examination money. He maintained that it will be catered for and that only reviews on its structures will be undertaken.
