Private schools first casualties as exam fee waiver phased out

Private schools will be the first to feel the pinch of the government’s plan to end free examination fees, as the National Treasury begins a phased withdrawal of the waiver that has cushioned learners for over a decade.

Beginning next year, parents with children in private schools will be required to foot the bill for national examinations—including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

The move marks the first step in a broader government plan to shift exam-related costs to families deemed financially able, including some in public schools.

However, it was not immediately clear if learners in private schools would shoulder the full amount of the examination fees.

At the same time, sources within the Ministry of Education say the government is considering assessing the financial capabilities of parents in public schools to determine who can afford to contribute to the cost of national assessments.

If implemented, the plan would end the full government sponsorship of national exams—introduced by former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i—and shift the burden to parents beginning with the 2025 cohort.

Currently, the government pays approximately Sh7,200 per candidate to cover printing, invigilation, logistics, and storage. But in recent years, this cost has become increasingly unsustainable.

Last year, the government only managed to fund exams through a supplementary budget after failing to allocate funds in the initial budget. This year, exam funding came after MPs pressured the Treasury to reallocate capitation funds.

Speaking in Parliament during the budget reading, Treasury CS Mbadi confirmed ongoing discussions with Education CS Julius Ogamba on how to finance examinations moving forward.

“The National Treasury is in consultation with the Ministry of Education on how best to achieve this at a minimum cost, including evaluating possible cost-sharing mechanisms.

"I assure the public and the 2025 examination candidates of our commitment to provide adequate funding for the 2025 national examinations,” Mbadi said.

He noted that vulnerable learners would still be considered for full government support.

However, the directive has sparked outrage among stakeholders in the education sector—particularly private schools, which say the move punishes disadvantaged learners enrolled in non-public institutions.

“Some of the learners in private schools come from underprivileged backgrounds and are only able to attend through scholarships and sponsorships.

"This plan risks locking them out and unfairly disadvantaging them simply because they are in private institutions,” said Charles Ochome, chairman of the Kenya Private Schools Association.

The National Parents Association also raised concerns that the proposal could increase school dropout rates and deepen inequality in education.

“This is madness. There has been no consultation or alternative provided for those who will not be able to pay for their registration. Are we saying candidates in these families will not get the chance to take their examination?” asked Silas Obuhatsa, the association’s chairman.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) warned that the cost shift could reverse gains made toward universal exam access.

“The government should explore alternative funding solutions rather than pushing the burden onto parents who are already grappling with multiple financial obligations,” said KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori.

If the proposal goes through, this year’s candidates will be the last group to benefit from the full government exam subsidy.