Government to Fully Fund Ongoing National Examinations, Says CS Julius Ogamba
The CS assured the committee that the Ministry is committed to releasing all the funds needed to maintain the integrity and fairness of the examination.
He clarified that the government fully sponsors the cost of examinations and therefore no additional fees should be collected. PHOTO/COURTESY
By Ruth Sang
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has once again assured that the government will cater to all the expenses of the current national exams, that no parent will be required to make any exam payments. The assurance comes after some parents and teachers raised concerns over delayed payments as well as alleged examination fees in schools.
In assuring the government is financing the administration of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) while testifying before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Wednesday, CS Ogamba assured all the costs are being catered for by the Ministry of Education and the outstanding funds would soon be paid.
According to CS, there is an existing financing deficit of Ksh.3.7 billion required to run the examinations effectively and settle all payments. But he assured parliamentarians that the Treasury is negotiating to allow the Ministry to receive the required funds. “The late payment of examiners is a result of delayed exchequer releases. We are negotiating so that if we set budgets for exams, we do not cut or delay them,” said Ogamba.
He added that the Ministry is just as devoted to transparent administration of the exams and timely payment of examiners. “We will see to it that there is money available, payment is made, and exams are conducted smoothly,” he asserted.
CS Ogamba also issued a firm instruction to all school principals, warning them against collecting any amount of money from parents or guardians for examinations. He clarified that the government fully sponsors the cost of examinations and therefore no additional fees should be collected. “No head or principal has been instructed to ask parents to pay exam fees. That is solely the government’s job,” Ogamba reassured.
The CS assured the committee that the Ministry is committed to releasing all the funds needed to maintain the integrity and fairness of the examination process. “We will ensure examinations proceed uninterrupted, and no parent will be saddled with the burden of financial contributions,” he added.
The KCSE examinations officially commenced on 21st October, 2025, the date that marked a very significant point in Kenya’s education timeline. The KPSEA examinations were conducted between 27th and 29th October, while the KJSEA examinations are being conducted between 27th October and 3rd November, 2025. The examinations are part of Kenya’s shift from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
CS Ogamba also said that the Ministry plans to release KPSEA and KJSEA results in December 2025, while KCSE results are to be out by January 2026. He also re-emphasized that the government is still committed to sponsoring learners and having a fair, transparent, and accessible examination process for all students across the country.
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