MPs to Discuss Scrapping KCSE Exam Fee Waiver
Parents with children preparing for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations may have to allocate more funds for their children’s exam registration.
This potential financial burden stems from a parliamentary proposal aiming to eliminate the full waiver on KCSE exam registration. If enacted, it would bring an end to a decade-long initiative that has alleviated financial strain on parents and students from underprivileged backgrounds.
The proposed legislation seeks to address a Ksh91 billion shortfall in education funding by redirecting resources to other critical academic areas. Should it be approved, the bill will establish a cost-sharing mechanism where parents will be required to contribute to KCSE exam registration fees alongside the government.
The government has justified this move by pointing to the growing number of students registering for national exams each year. The rising enrolment figures have made it increasingly difficult for the Ministry of Education to fully finance the exams and guarantee that all students can participate.
Under the current policy, introduced by former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, the government has allocated Ksh5 million annually to cover KCSE registration fees. Matiang’i had highlighted that exam registration costs posed a significant challenge for some parents, preventing students from disadvantaged backgrounds from taking these crucial exams.
Although the current KCSE registration fee is Ksh7,000, the proposed cost-sharing model does not specify the exact financial obligation each parent will bear.
This development follows an announcement made a month ago by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who stated that KCSE exam registration would commence on February 17 to ensure candidates have ample time to submit their details.
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During the release of the 2024 KCSE examination results, Ogamba also disclosed that the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) registration would start on January 27.
Additionally, the Education Cabinet Secretary confirmed the introduction of the KCSE mid-year series every July for the next three years, providing an opportunity for candidates who previously missed their examinations to take the tests.
MPs to Discuss Scrapping KCSE Exam Fee Waiver
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