Exam budget cuts put 3.5 million learners' future in jeopardy

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has decried the significant examination budget reduction that threatens the administration of this year’s national examinations and assessments.

Appearing before Members of Parliament, Kipsang said the entire Sh5.023 billion set aside for the tests has been slashed, putting approximately 3.5 million learners at risk.

He noted that the 100 per cent reduction of the budget in the Supplementary Estimate No. I of the FY 2024/25 would severely impact the administration of the 2024 national examinations set to begin in October.

He urged the MPs to push for the reinstatement of the budget to ensure that millions of learners can undertake their examinations as planned.

“The funds are utilised to cater for supervision and invigilation as well as examiners’ costs. We therefore request the reinstatement of Sh5.023 billion to ensure that the 2024 school examinations and assessments are undertaken in line with the Government policy on free and compulsory basic education,” said Kipsang.

Of the Sh5 billion initially allocated, Sh1.9 billion was designated for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and Sh3.1 billion was for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

In total, 3.5 million learners will be affected, including 1,264,842 Grade Three pupils, 1,313,913 KPSEA candidates, and 965,501 KCSE candidates.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang. (Photo: Education Ministry)1

The KPSEA exams for Grade Six are scheduled to start on October 25 and end on October 30, while the Kenya Intermediate Education Assessment (KILEA) exams are set for October 28 to October 31. The KCSE examinations are planned to commence on November 4 and conclude on November 22.

Ramifications

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), which advises MPs on budget, finance, and economic matters, also warned about the ramifications of the budget cuts.

“This allocation supports all the logistics relating to examinations, including costs for invigilation, marking, and security. It is critical to note that the practical examinations are set to begin in October this year and lack of this provision may affect the administration of the exams,” the PBO’s brief to MPs read.

Adding to the crisis, Sh742 million meant for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) was mistakenly removed from the budget, leaving the agency with no allocation.

Kipsang explained that the KNEC budget was removed after the agency was mistakenly categorized among Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) that are required to meet their expenditures through their respective Appropriation In Aid (AIA) funds.

He said the error was to be corrected in the supplementary estimates No. I of the FY 2024/25 but that is yet to be done.

“The funds are utilized in supporting the Council’s non-discretionary expenses, board expenses, and to meet the deficit under Personnel Emoluments. We therefore request for a reinstatement of Sh742 million in the Supplementary Estimate No. I of the FY 2024/25 budget,” Kipsang said.

Kipsang also protested the transfer of Sh3 billion meant for the School Feeding Programme (FPE) to the State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).

He stressed the need for the program to be aligned with other education programs for efficiency and effectiveness, particularly given its pending bill of Sh2.4 billion, which will be the first charge in the 2024/2025 budgetary allocation.