Teachers will walk to exam locations to perform invigilation tasks since Knec lacks funding.
Teachers may be in for a harsh awakening this year when it comes to administering tests, as the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) may be negatively impacted by significant budget cuts made by the national treasury.
Every year, Knec hires teachers to fill positions as exam markers, supervisors, center managers, and invigilators. 243,434 teachers were hired to oversee the tests the previous year.
Knec reimburses center managers, supervisors, and invigilators for their transportation expenses but does not pay for the services they provide.
However, since the Knec budget that was meant to support them was removed, teachers could go to the exam centers on foot for this year’s assessments and exams.
Education stakeholders have previously voiced their opinions on the matter following the Treasury’s decision to completely eliminate the funding allotted to Knec for overseeing and invigilating examinations and assessments.
The examinations are in three months, and experts worry that hundreds of thousands of students who will be taking them in October and November may experience severe difficulties with test administration.
At least 24 areas—including a 100% reduction in examination and invigilation fees—will be impacted by budget cuts, according to a July 5 circular from Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u.
According to Prof. Ndung’u, the Finance Bill 2024, which President William Ruto rejected, included new revenue measures totaling Sh344.3 billion that were supposed to be used to support the budget for the Financial Year 2024–2025.
This resulted in a comparable financing imbalance and suggests that paying expenses of Sh344.3 billion is untenable. The funding deficit will need an adjustment to the budget estimates for the FY 2024–2025 in accordance with Article 223 of the Constitution and Section 44 of the PFMA, Cap 412A. According to the circular, the adjustments would be regularized within the framework of FY 2024–2025 Supplementary Estimates No. 1.
The Finance Bill that was rejected included a Sh5 billion test waiver fee for Knec.
Most education stakeholders feel that the recent cuts are shocking and will make the exam process even more difficult, especially because the Knec has been running on massive budget deficits while still submitting its annual activity plan to the National Assembly.
It was anticipated that beginning this month, the council will begin receiving funding.
The experts expressed their disappointment with the budget cut, saying it came at a time when the council should have all the support it needs to guarantee that thousands of invigilators are hired, that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and other assessments are administered smoothly, and that there are sufficient funds available.
According to one of the experts, public records reveal that Knec has been paid a fixed amount of Sh5 billion for tests each fiscal year; however, the number of applicants has been steadily increasing, as have other essential components and procedures needed to maintain the integrity of the exams.
“From what I have learned over the years, exam reforms implemented by the government have been extremely costly. There have been inquiries as to why the government does not apply the same per capita financing approach for exam funding as it does for the education sector, according to the expert.
The government takes into account the number of students enrolled in a learning institution, but it also does so for test funds, based on per capita funding that is employed in areas like fund disbursement and textbook distribution.
This means that the government does not keep track of how many pupils at a school are scheduled to take exams, and Knec has been running at a loss since 2017, a year after the government assumed responsibility for paying these fees.
The Auditor General’s audited records show that Knec had a Sh3.8 billion deficit, making it difficult for the organization to operate.
Since 2016, the government has covered the examination costs for all applicants enrolled in both public and private institutions. This initiative was taken to make sure that no student is left out of national examinations.
For example, Knec stated at the beginning of this year’s KCSE registration period that all students would have their exam expenses covered by the government, with the exception of candidates who needed to retake the exam, non-Kenyans, and private candidates who were registering at sub-county private examination centers.
The exam fees for both regular and private applicants are Sh5,000 for seven subjects, Sh5,400 for eight, Sh5,800 for nine, and Sh1,800 for KPSEA.
The cost of retaking the exam is Sh3,100 for one subject and Sh6,300 for nine topics, while each candidate must pay Sh3,000 to register for the KCSE qualifying exam.
“We have always known that the government fully provides for this, and Knec is expected to deliver without fail. Yesterday, I saw a circular on budget cuts on exam and invigilation fees and wondered why the government is trying to create a crisis and cause anxiety in the country,” another education expert stated.
The expert, who likewise requested anonymity, contended that the administration ought to have released a statement of this kind at the beginning of the year.
And speaking separately, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno raised concerns over the cuts saying they will have a drastic effect for a majority of parents and learners and could even see some learners miss out on sitting the national exams.
“If there is a 100% exam cut, it indicates that parents are once again bearing the responsibility for exams. Since the majority of parents and a large number of applicants may miss the national examinations, this approach will be harsh, according to Otieno.
The Treasury CS stated in the circular that the government will start implementing austerity measures on the operations and maintenance budget in order to limit spending.
He said these proposals will be undertaken in all MDAs, including Semi-autonomous government agencies.
Teachers will walk to exam locations to perform invigilation tasks since Knec lacks funding.
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