KNEC Crisis Looms Over Budget Cuts on Exam and Invigilation Fees
Recent budget cuts are predicted to create a significant crisis in the administration of national examinations managed by the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), according to education stakeholders.
With exams just three months away, these cuts could lead to severe challenges and anxiety for hundreds of thousands of candidates set to sit their tests in October and November.
The National Treasury has issued guidelines for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the Judiciary, Parliament, Constitutional Commissions, and Independent Offices, to review their revenue and expenditure estimates for the Financial Year 2024/25.
In a circular dated July 5, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u outlined at least 24 areas affected by budget cuts, including a 100 percent cut 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 as detailed in the Finance Bill 2024, which President William Ruto rejected last month.
This created a financing gap of a similar amount, necessitating a revision of the budget estimates for FY 2024/25. These changes will be formalized in the FY 2024/25 Supplementary Estimates No. 1.
Impact on Knec
Knec had been allocated Sh5 billion as an exam waiver fee in the rejected Finance Bill. The latest cuts have shocked many education stakeholders, as Knec has been operating on significant budget deficits despite presenting their annual program of activities to the National Assembly.
Stakeholders expected the council to start receiving funds at the beginning of this month.
One expert, who chose to remain anonymous, noted that public documents show Knec has been receiving a flat rate of Sh5 billion for exams every financial year, despite a steady rise in the number of candidates and other critical requirements.
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 to ensure 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 except those re-sitting, non-Kenyans, and private candidates registering in sub-county private examination centers.
Examination Fees Breakdown
- 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
Additional Concerns
Another anonymous expert expressed concern over the budget cuts, suggesting the government is creating a crisis and causing unnecessary anxiety.
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The expert argued that such communication should have been issued at the start of the year. Separately, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno raised concerns that the cuts will drastically affect many parents and learners, potentially causing 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 be unable to afford it.
KNEC Crisis Looms Over Budget Cuts on Exam and Invigilation Fees
