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Education Cabinet Secretary Migosi Ogamba has assured the public that parents will not be required to pay for national examinations, despite a significant Sh62 billion shortfall in the education sector budget.
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The reassurance follows concerns sparked by the discovery that no funds had been allocated for administering and invigilating national exams, a process estimated to cost at least Sh12.5 billion.
This raised fears about the fate of candidates, especially those preparing for the first-ever Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Addressing the National Assembly’s Education Committee, CS Ogamba dismissed fears of disruption, noting that the ministry is working with stakeholders to resolve the funding crisis.
“Parents will not be burdened with exam fees,” said Ogamba. “This was an oversight, and it’s already being addressed. We are committed to making this a standard going forward.”
He emphasized the government’s dedication to equitable education and assured that no student would be disadvantaged due to budgetary issues.
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The exams shortfall is just one part of a broader funding crisis: junior secondary schools face a Sh14.7 billion capitation gap, Free Primary Education is short by Sh1.2 billion, and no funds have been set aside for quality assurance programs.
“Such situations are not unusual in the sector,” Ogamba explained. “When there’s a gap, we work to secure the necessary resources and ensure exams proceed as planned.”
Despite these assurances, stakeholders—including teacher unions, education advocates, and MPs—have raised alarm, warning that such funding constraints could threaten ongoing education reforms, particularly the rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE).
With the exam period fast approaching, the Ministry faces mounting pressure to secure emergency funding and safeguard access and quality for millions of learners in public schools.
