Parents of children intending to take the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) may have to spend more money to cover their children’s exam registration fees.
This action comes after a parliamentary proposal aimed at eliminating the full waiver on KCSE exam registration. If this change is implemented, it could end a program that has helped alleviate pressure on parents and children from low-income backgrounds for the past ten years.
The newly suggested law aims to cover an education funding shortfall of Ksh91 billion and ensure that resources are allocated to other significant academic needs.
Should it receive approval, the bill will establish a cost-sharing system that requires parents to jointly bear the expenses of KCSE exam registration with the government.
The government defended the proposal by linking the decision to the rising number of students taking national examinations annually.
The government noted that the Ministry of Education found it difficult to cover exam costs and guarantee that all students could take the exams due to the high enrolment levels.
The current policy, introduced by Fred Matiang’i, who was formerly the Education Cabinet Secretary, has resulted in an annual government allocation of Ksh 5 million for the registration of all KCSE candidates.
Matiang’i remarked then that for some parents, the exam registration fee was a significant burden and that it barred students from underprivileged backgrounds from taking the important exams.
The current KCSE registration fee is Ksh7000, but the cost-sharing formula does not specify the exact amount each parent will need to contribute for their children.
One month after the announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba regarding the commencement of KCSE exam registration on February 17—intended to provide candidates with sufficient time to submit their details—the development occurred.
While announcing the release of the 2024 KCSE exams, Ogamba disclosed that registration for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) would commence on January 27.
The CS announced that the KCSE mid-year series will be held every July for the next three years, providing an opportunity for candidates who missed previous exams to take the tests.
