Exam Uncertainty as KPSEA, KJSEA & KCSE Pupils Sent Home Amid Funding Standoff
Thousands of students across the country are at risk of missing out on this year’s KCSE and KPSEA as the impasse between schools and the government deepens.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari sounded the alarm, warning that the situation will get out of hand if schools continue to send students home over unpaid fees.
After confirming that some pupils in her constituency had been sent away, Wangari said Gilgil schools were lucky to receive support from county funds and the NG-CDF.
“I met Grade 6 pupils being sent home and I was shocked. Why would schools chase away 12-year-olds? Last term funds didn’t come in. We are asking the Ministry of Education and Treasury to clear pending payments before announcing new ones,” the MP said.
The crisis comes at a critical time with candidates preparing for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE exams between October and November.
In Makueni, several secondary schools have already shut down due to lack of capitation funds. School administrators said they were supposed to get 30% of their allocation in the second term but only got 10%. The 20% for the third term is still uncertain.
Day schools which rely entirely on capitation for daily operations are the hardest hit, according to KESSHA. Boarding schools are also struggling with some principals sending students home and others giving parents deadlines to pay fees.
KESSHA Makueni chairman Johnson Ndivo said this is the third term in a row the government has failed to release funds on time leaving schools unprepared for national exams.
“This is the most critical term for schools—we need chemicals for practical exams and revision materials. Without timely funding everything stalls,” Ndivo warned.
Education CS Ogamba recently announced that funds had been received from Treasury but said the ministry was still verifying records to eliminate ghost learners and schools before releasing the money.
Treasury CS John Mbadi later said Ksh23 billion will be released to schools this week alongside additional funds for HELB following a directive by President Ruto.
In the meantime, many schools are forced to find alternative ways to survive with students caught in the middle of the impasse.
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Exam Uncertainty as KPSEA, KJSEA & KCSE Pupils Sent Home Amid Funding Standoff