NAIROBI, Kenya—The government has warned rogue school administrators who are imposing exorbitant charges on parents.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Migos, who termed the behaviour “bad practice,” said such a move would not be tolerated.
“The Ministry of Education has noted, with great concern, a disturbing situation where some senior schools are returning to the banned practice of charging levies,” said the CS.
While releasing the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results, the CS said stern action would be taken against such school administrators.
“I wish to put it on the record that the government will not condone the practice and will take stern action against school administrators who are found to be levying extra charges on parents,” warned CS Ogamba.
Why the Ministry of Education is liaising with the Treasury
He further emphasised that the fees charged in secondary schools remain the same as in 2024.
“As I promised last week, the Ministry of Education is liaising with the National Treasury to ensure that Sh 48 billion capitation grants for our primary, junior, and secondary school levels for Term One 2025 are disbursed using data captured under the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS),” explained the CS.
CS Ogamba, who presided over the event at Mtihani House in Nairobi, said the government has been enhancing measures to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in administering national examinations.
“Starting this year, and following extensive stakeholder consultations, I wish to announce that KNEC will introduce a mid-year series of the KCSE examination, to be administered in July every year,” said the CS.
According to CS Ogamba, the examination will target candidates wishing to repeat the KCSE examination and those who may have missed sitting an examination due to sickness or other unexpected hardships.
How the government is supporting visually impaired students
He said adult candidates may also consider registering for the July KCSE series examination.
“As part of aligning our examination processes with best global assessment practices, the Ministry is working on integrating the use of Orbit Readers and phasing out Braille machines in administering the KCSE examination to candidates with visual impairments,” said the CS.
Meanwhile, the CS announced that 962,512 candidates sat the 2024 KCSE examination, compared to 899,453 candidates in 2023.
“This represents an increase of 64,553 candidates (7.19%); of the 962,512 candidates who sat the 2024 KCSE examination, 480,310 were male, while 482,202 were female, representing 49.90% and 50.10% of the total candidature, respectively,” explained the CS.
He reiterated that this is the first time since the inception of the KCSE examination that there are more female candidates than male candidates.
