KNUT Asks Ruto to Reinstate KNEC’s Exam Budget to Curb Cheating
Education stakeholders are pressuring the government to restore the invigilation fees slashed in recent budget cuts, warning that failing to do so will compromise the administration of national exams.
Collins Oyuu, the Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), threatened that teachers might boycott exam administration and marking if funding issues are not resolved.
Oyuu insisted that the government should honor its commitment to fund education, ensuring free education and increased transition rates from primary to secondary and higher learning.
He criticized the government for consistently delaying teachers’ payments despite assurances that funds were allocated in the budget.
Oyuu stated that they have issued an ultimatum to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) not to engage with them if payments are not made promptly.
Budget Cuts Impact
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) also raised concerns about the significant budget cuts to KNEC.
Acting Secretary General Moses Nthurima warned that these cuts would severely impact the council’s ability to conduct credible examinations, scheduled for three months from now.
Nthurima pointed out that the council’s budget has been effectively reduced to zero, following Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u’s announcement that KNEC was among the 24 areas affected by budget cuts due to the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024.
Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa, Executive Director of Usawa Agenda, urged the government to revert to the previous funding model for the examination body, allowing KNEC to collect examination fees from parents to cover the costs of administering exams.
Manyasa warned that poor funding could compromise the integrity of exam results, as invigilators might be tempted to accept bribes from school heads to ensure good results.
He emphasized that since 2016, the government has covered examination fees for all candidates to prevent any learner from being excluded from national exams, and cutting this funding could undermine the progress made over the past seven years.
Johnson Nzioka, Chairman of the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association, echoed these concerns, urging the government to reinstate the invigilation fees.
He highlighted that teachers are not willing to offer their services for free and that inadequate funding for national examinations could compromise their integrity. Nzioka stressed that if students do not receive fair assessments, the efforts of educators will be wasted.
Potential Crisis
KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba warned that the budget cuts could lead to a nationwide crisis and increased anxiety.
He noted that without a budget for KNEC, the council might be forced to either cancel exams or surcharge parents, reverting to previous practices.
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Nthurima emphasized the critical role of examinations in the education system and called on the Ministry of Education and the government to reinstate the budget to ensure that teachers are adequately compensated.
In 2022, examiners at various marking centers went on strike due to poor working conditions and pay. Teachers at St. Joseph Mang’u Girls and Starehe Boys Centre demanded better pay, highlighting the ongoing issues with teacher compensation and working conditions.
KNUT Asks Ruto to Reinstate KNEC’s Exam Budget to Curb Cheating
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