Crisis in KNEC as Govt Cuts Budget on Exam and Invigilation Fees

Godfrey Gwako

6 months ago

Crisis in KNEC as Govt Cuts Budget on Exam and Invigilation Fees: Education stakeholders are raising alarms over recent KNEC budget cuts. They predict a significant crisis in the administration of national exams managed by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). With exams just three months away, these cuts could create severe challenges and anxiety for the hundreds of thousands of candidates set to sit their tests in October and November.

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Treasury has instructed various government bodies to review their budgets

The National Treasury has instructed various government bodies to revise their budgets downwards. These include Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the Judiciary. Parliament, Constitutional Commissions, and Independent Offices, have not been spared either.

In a circular dated July 5, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u identified at least 24 areas affected by budget cuts. Shockingly, they include a complete elimination of funding for examination and invigilation fees.

Prof. Ndung’u explained that the Financial Year 2024/25 budget was supposed to be funded through additional revenue measures amounting to Sh344.3 billion. The measures are detailed in the Finance Bill 2024, which President William Ruto rejected last month.

President Ruto’s rejection of the finance bill created the crisis at KNEC

This rejection created a financing gap of a similar amount. The gap has necessitated a revision of the budget estimates for FY 2024/25. These changes will be formalized in the FY 2024/25 Supplementary Estimates No. 1.

The impact on KNEC is profound. KNEC had been allocated Sh5 billion as an exam waiver fee in the rejected Finance Bill. The latest cuts have shocked many education stakeholders. KNEC has been operating on significant budget deficits despite presenting their annual program of activities to the National Assembly.

Stakeholders had expected the council to start receiving funds at the beginning of this month.

An anonymous expert noted that public documents show KNEC has been receiving a flat rate of Sh5 billion for exams every financial year. This has been happening despite a steady rise in the number of candidates and other critical requirements.

The government does not use the per capita funding principle

The expert questioned why the government does not use the per capita funding principle for exam funding, as it does in the education sector.

Since 2016, the government has been paying examination fees for all candidates enrolled in public and private schools. This has always ensured no learner misses national examinations. For instance, KNEC announced at the start of this year’s KCSE registration that the government would pay exam fees for all students. Only those re-sitting, non-Kenyans, and private candidates registering in sub-county private examination centers will be required to pay.

The fees for examinations are as follows:

– Regular and Private Candidates:

– Seven subjects: Sh5,000

– Eight subjects: Sh5,400

– Nine subjects: Sh5,800

– KPSEA: Sh1,800

– Repeating Exam:

– One subject: Sh3,100

– Nine subjects: Sh6,300

– KCSE Qualifying Test Registration: Sh3,000 per candidate

Another expert expressed concern over the budget cuts. He suggested that the government is creating a crisis and causing unnecessary anxiety.

They argued that such communication should have been issued at the start of the year. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno raised concerns that the cuts will drastically affect many parents and learners. They will potentially cause some learners to miss the national exams.

Otieno emphasized that reverting the burden of exam fees back to parents will have severe consequences, as many parents might not afford it.

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