Anxiety builds over KCSE exams as State sends education funds late

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

KENYA: Anxiety is building over the fate of this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams as a teacher’s union asks for a postponement.

The union argues that schools have no funds to buy equipment required by Tuesday next week when the exams begin.

While the government yesterday promised to release Sh6 billion free education cash meant for the third school term before Friday, which is to be used to purchase equipment and specimens for the exams, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) says it will take not less than 34 days to procure the items.

The government has assured that the money will be in the schools’ bank accounts by Monday, just a day before the KCSE exams kick off.

Exams without funds

 “It is impossible to conduct the examinations without funds since procurement of science materials has not been effected to date, yet the procurement period takes not less than 34 days,” said Kuppet’s Secretary General Akelo Misori.

Mr Misori said there is no way schools will carry on with the exams without funds, since the procurement of science materials and equipment has not even been done.

Schools also need time to prepare the items for the examinations, he said. Of the Sh6 billion to be released, Sh4 billion will be sent to secondary schools and Sh2 billion channelled to primary schools.

Money to facilitate KCSE practical examinations comes from the Sh4 billion. Each candidate has been allocated Sh2,000 for the purchase of specimens and equipment required in the biology, physics and chemistry practical papers.

Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba said schools could not be forced to continue with practical examinations when the government had not provided money in advance to purchase the equipment.

“This year, the batch of funds for free secondary education has not been submitted to schools. Day schools in particular are having it rough because they depend on this money yet KCSE exams are starting next week,” said Milemba.

He added, “Majority of students are going to be disadvantaged if this examination is allowed to go on as scheduled. The government is the surrogate parent of these youngsters, which is why we are giving it until Wednesday to send the money to schools or we shall insist that the exams be postponed.

 “Kuppet has written two letters to the Ministry of Education to urgently demand the money to be released or else we shall not allow examinations to continue as scheduled. If there’s anyone sleeping on the job, they should wake up now,” he said.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) chairman Wilson Sossion said the government must be seen to create an environment for learners to get a high quality education and also pass examinations.

“What timelines are they working with? If they plan to release the money before Friday, when will schools get the cash to procure the specimens?” he wondered.

Secondary school teachers said they have received a raft of items, apparatus and specimens from the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) to be used during physics, biology and chemistry practical examinations.

Beyond the exams, a further crisis is brewing, with schools apparently having run out of funds to keep students in school.

Mr Misori warned that should the government fail to disburse the funds by Tuesday next week, head teachers would be directed to send students packing by Wednesday.

“If the government does not channel the funds as agreed before the said date, we will have no option but to send students home on Wednesday next week,” he said.

Additional reporting by Bryan Tumwa and Lawrence Aluru