Parents across Kenya can breathe a sigh of relief following a decision by the National Assembly to allocate Sh5.9 billion towards the administration of national examinations for primary, junior, and secondary schools.
The funding comes after widespread public outcry over initial budget estimates that omitted provisions for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), leaving millions of learners potentially without examination support.
Scheduled for September, the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will now proceed as planned.
The National Assembly Committee on Education proposed reallocating funds from existing education budget lines, including Sh2 billion from junior schools, Sh3 billion from secondary schools, and Sh900 million from primary school capitation.
“There is a proposed increment of Sh5.9 billion for examination administration and invigilation — provision for national examinations which had not been provided for in the budget,” noted the committee in its report to the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC).
The total required to facilitate the 2025 national examinations stands at Sh12.58 billion. The proposed reallocation seeks to bridge a significant funding gap in the education sector, which is currently facing a Sh62 billion shortfall according to estimates tabled before Parliament.
Originally, the budget projections reflected zero funding for examinations and invigilation, prompting strong resistance from lawmakers. National Assembly Education Committee chairman Julius Melly had earlier cautioned, “We shall not write our report without the examination money,” during a session with Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on 13 May.
As a result, the PS was instructed to work alongside the Treasury to submit an addendum reinstating essential allocations, including exam funding, school capitation, quality assurance, and the school feeding programme.
Finance Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi reassured the public, stating that there is no need to panic. “It will be catered for,” he said, while indicating that a review of the exam structure and funding approach is underway, including reconsideration of who qualifies for government-subsidised exam fees.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
