“No Exams This Year?” Treasury’s Zero Budget for National Exams Sparks Outrage and Panic
Kenya’s education system is staring at a full-blown crisis after it emerged that the government has allocated zero shillings towards national examination registration and invigilation. This shocking revelation, delivered to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education and Research, threatens the academic future of thousands of learners across the country.
In what has been described as a budgetary bombshell, the National Treasury completely slashed examination funding—piling more pressure on an already strained education sector. The development leaves parents potentially burdened with the responsibility of paying for national exams, a move that could deepen inequality and deny countless learners the right to education.
“There are certain activities that you tend to think they may be done or may not be done, but putting zero budget for exams—are we serious?” thundered committee Chairperson Julius Melly.
His sentiments were echoed by Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi, who expressed outrage over the potential privatization of access to national examinations:
“What is wrong with exams of our children? Does Treasury want to do away with exams or does it want to communicate to parents to start paying examination fees?”
On the defensive, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok and Budget Officer Nehemiah Odera admitted the omission and gave a lukewarm assurance:
“We assure the public that we are discussing with National Treasury to ensure that we address this issue.”
But the committee was far from reassured. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had placed the School Examination and Invigilation Annual Requirement at Ksh.12.5 billion. Treasury’s Budget Policy Statement had slashed it to Ksh.6 billion. The final allocation? Zero.
Wider System Collapse Looming
The crisis goes beyond just exams. Quality Assurance and Standards—critical to maintaining educational integrity—were also completely defunded. Ksh.600 million had been earmarked for this component. It was approved. But again, zero was allocated.
The Modernization of the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), intended to centralize data and digitize oversight across the country’s education sector, met the same fate: total defunding.
Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has flagged a Ksh.5.7 billion deficit for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, confirming its inability to permanently employ 20,000 intern teachers, a move that could cripple teacher-to-student ratios.
With a Sh62 billion hole in the education budget, the consequences could be catastrophic for Kenya’s learners, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.
The big question now: Is the government deliberately abandoning public education, or is this a budgeting oversight gone too far?
As learners, parents, and educators await answers, one thing is clear—the time to act is now.
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“No Exams This Year?” Treasury’s Zero Budget for National Exams Sparks Outrage and Panic