Uncertainty as national exams threatened after Sh14.9 billion budget cut

Budget cuts amounting to Sh14.93 billion under the State Department of Basic Education are now threatening the administration of the 2024 national examinations and the implementation of key initiatives such as the school feeding programme.

In the 2023/2024 financial year, the department was allocated Sh142.2 billion. In the current fiscal year, the budget has gone down to Sh127.3 billion following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.

A key area affected by the budget cuts is the invigilation and supervision of examinations which, in the previous year, had been allocated Sh5.02 billion. The budget was however scrapped by the National Treasury putting in limbo the fate of 3.5 million learners set to sit their examinations and assessments this year.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said 1.3 million learners are set for their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, 1.2 million learners in Grade 3 and a further 965,501 learners poised to undertake their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, and have already registered, but their fate now hangs in the balance following the budget cuts.

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education and Research Friday, the PS, however, asked the House team to reinstate the money to ensure a smooth administration of the examinations.

“The funds cater for supervision and invigilation and examiners' costs. We request the reinstatement of the Sh5.02 billion to ensure the 2024 examinations and assessments are undertaken in line with government policy on free and compulsory basic education,” said Kipsang.

The budget cuts will also have a significant impact on the school feeding programme meant to benefit learners, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties, as well as those in pockets of poverty in specific counties. They include those in informal urban settlements. The programme ensures the provision of meals in a bid to encourage retention and curb school dropouts.

In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, the programme got Sh3 billion. However, the same has since been moved to the State Department of ASALs in the current 2024/2025 year.

While the programme’s budget has not been slashed or reduced, Dr Kipsang argued that its transfer to another department would affect its implementation and alignment with other education programmes.

Kipsang told the House team that the programme already has a pending bill of Sh2.4 billion from the last financial year, which is set to incur its first charge in the current fiscal year.

He is now calling on the Julius Melly-led committee to facilitate the return of the programme’s kitty to the State Department of Basic Education to foster “high efficiency and effectiveness” in its implementation.

“This being a key priority intervention in the education sector, we request for the reinstatement of the Sh3 shillings to be able to cater for the school-going children within the school calendar year” the PS said.

Moreover, Kipsang pointed out that the budget cuts had led to the underfunding of learners under the Free Day Senior Secondary School programme by a massive Sh12.76 billion.

The cost per learner, he explained, would be Sh22,244 translating to an overall budget of Sh76.7 billion to sustain the programme in the current financial year. However, the programme has only been allocated Sh63.88 billion meaning every learner will only receive a capitation of Sh18,757.

“On the other hand, if learners are to receive the full capitation of S22,244 as per the current policy, then 1,381,100 learners will not be funded in term three of the 2024 academic year and 372,270 learners will not be funded in terms one and two in the 2025 academic year,” stated Kipsang.

He added: “We request for additional Sh12.76 billion to cater for the free day senior secondary school programme.”