Exam Fee Relief: Parents Spared Burden Despite Budget Cuts, CS Ogamba Assures Funding for National Examinations

Meru, Kenya – Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has moved to quell concerns among parents and educators, assuring the nation that students will not be burdened with examination fees despite initial budgetary constraints faced by the Ministry of Education. His remarks, delivered during a graduation ceremony in Meru, aimed to provide clarity and relief following reports of potential funding shortfalls.

CS Ogamba emphasized the government's dedication to ensuring equitable access to education, stating, "The government is determined to ensure that no child is left behind in exam payments." He confirmed that the Ministry is actively collaborating with the National Treasury to secure the necessary funds and have them incorporated into the budget. "Parents will not pay for examination fees," Ogamba reiterated firmly. "We are already in talks with Treasury, and we are sure that the money will be factored into the budget. There will be no wastage."

Acknowledging that the funding for national examinations was initially omitted from the budget proposal, the CS explained that discussions are currently underway to rectify this. He likened the situation to previous years where similar financial gaps were addressed through supplementary budgets, describing it as a "normal" occurrence within the sector. This process, he implied, has successfully ensured exam funding in the past and is expected to do so again.

The CS's assurances come after parliamentarians raised alarms over a reported KSh62 billion shortfall in the education sector's budget, which had sparked fears of potential disruptions to the preparation and administration of national exams. Ogamba sought to dispel these fears, confirming that funds for all national assessments, including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and primary school examinations, would be fully covered, and that examination timelines would not be affected.

Beyond exam funding, CS Ogamba also touched upon broader educational reforms. He highlighted ongoing efforts to modularize the vocational curriculum, aiming to make Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) more flexible and responsive to industry needs. Furthermore, he announced ambitious plans to recruit an additional 5,800 new TVET trainers in the upcoming budget year, signaling a significant investment in strengthening vocational education in Kenya.