Written by Alice Njoki.
The Kenyan government revealed on May 13, 2025, that no funds were allocated in the 2025/26 national budget for the administration of key national exams, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Junior Secondary School (JSS), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
This was disclosed during a session of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education and Research, where Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok and Treasury officials failed to explain the zero budget for these critical exams. Committee Chairperson Julius Melly expressed shock over the omission, emphasizing that national exams are annual and essential activities that must be funded. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) was absent from the meeting, raising further concerns. The committee also revealed that Ksh 62 billion had been cut from the overall education budget, deepening the crisis and threatening the futures of thousands of learners.
The failure to fund these exams has sparked fears that parents may be forced to pay examination fees, a move that could exclude many children from public schools who come from low-income families and depend on free education and bursaries. Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi questioned whether the Treasury intends to do away with exams or shift the financial burden to parents. PS Bitok acknowledged the funding gaps and promised to consult with the Treasury and KNEC to resolve the issue, but the committee demanded a revised budget and summoned KNEC officials for further explanation. Without urgent action, many vulnerable learners risk being denied the chance to sit for their exams, jeopardizing their educational progress and future opportunities.
This situation raises serious questions about the future of education equity in Kenya. If parents are forced to pay exam fees, children from poor families who rely on free education and bursaries may be left behind. It is crucial that the government ensures national exams remain accessible to all learners, safeguarding their right to education and a fair chance at success.