NAIROBI—The government has offered to pay examination fees for all candidates – whether in private or public schools.
Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i said the State is committed to meeting the cost of registering for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for all candidates, adding that the facility, which has been available to candidates of public schools, will now be extended to those of private schools next year.
“The schools that abused the free examination subsidy will be reprimanded,” Matiang’i warned.
The CS said some schools took advantage of free examination fees payment facility to register ghost candidates with a view to meeting the minimum number of candidates needed to qualify as an examination centre.
“I have ordered the Quality Assurance wing of the Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation of these schools and compile a report to the Education Ministry by January 30, 2017,” he stated. “ I wish to warn such schools that they risk deregistration as centres.”
Dr Matiang’i observed that this year, the oldest candidate who sat the KCPE examinations was aged 66 years.
He noted there are many over-age candidates who continue sitting the national examinations. “I am happy to note that the Ministry is expanding the number of adult learning centres to take care of this special group of learners, whom we are keen to transit to higher levels of learning each year,” he said.
The CS observed that Form One classes are expected to be subjected to the full calendar, reporting to schools on January 9, 2017, as opposed to previous years when they took long to start off their learning.
He however warned school heads and principals that they risk sanctions if they set school fees beyond the Government ceiling. “I can assure you that the Ministry will monitor the enforcement of the school fees guidelines with as much firmness as we did with the new examination administration rules this year,” he said.
“Both overt and covert means will be enforced to ensure that the Government policy on school fees is implemented to the letter.”
