Private Schools To Pay For KCPE and KCSE Exams Fees
Private Schools To Pay For KCPE and KCSE Exams Fees. If a legislative proposal is accepted, parents whose children attend private schools may soon start paying for their children’s national examination costs as early as next year.
According to Lawmakers, the government’s choice to pay for students’ tuition at private universities has significantly impeded the agency’s capacity to conduct its business.
These parents are now being asked to pay examination registration fees by the MPs because the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is now having financial difficulties.
The facts were revealed at a speech by KNEC Chief Executive Dr. David Njengere before to the Parliamentary Investment on Education and Governance.
In order to respond to the auditor general’s questions, the CEO of the Council appeared before the Committee.
Now, the government pays around Sh800 for each student doing five elementary school subjects.
The state provides Sh5,000 for students taking seven subjects in secondary school, Sh5,400 for students taking eight subjects, and Sh5,800 for students taking nine subjects.
Private schools are in business, according to committee chairman Jack Wamboka, and if parents pay tuition, they should also pay for students’ examination costs.
Wamboka promised that his committee will see to it that sufficient funds were made aside for the council to carry out its duties.
“We are committed to serving this nation’s interests. We’ll make sure you have a solid financial foundation, Wamboka stated.
Private schools exist to produce money, so the government is not required to pay for their tests, according to Wamboka.
Shadrack Mwiti, a member of parliament for Imenti South, had brought up the issue of teachers not being paid for administering national exams, and the reaction was in response to him.
According to MP, “teachers who administered tests and police officers who secured the exams have not been given their money after completing their services.”
Njengere informed MPs that the council’s inability to fulfill its commitments is due to a lack of adequate funding.
“The majority of the responsibilities cannot be funded by us. We conduct exams and get payment in advance. In order to pay the remaining sum, we are awaiting supplemental money, Njengere stated.
The government has promised a fee waiver for all students taking national exams at both public and private schools.
When presenting the national budget for the fiscal year 2020–2021, Ukur Yatani, who was then the Treasury CS, promised that the government will set aside Sh4 billion to pay students taking the KCPE and KCSE exams that year.
The government may no longer pay the exam expenses for secondary school pupils attending private institutions next year.
Since this year’s KCPE applicants will be the last batch to take the exam before the Competency-Based Curriculum is fully implemented, primary schools won’t feel the pressure.