Schools stare at cash crisis after repeat candidate exam suspended

Education officails collect KCSE examination materials at Nakuru East Examination distribution center on November 11, 2024. [File, Standard] The suspension of the newly introduced Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) July examination for repeat candidates risks yet another financial crisis for schools. In the meantime, public and private secondary institutions are experiencing a significant drop in student numbers this year due to the absence of Form One admissions. This has led to a significant drop in funding, as public schools rely on government capitation, and private schools depend on school fees. Restriction on repeat candidates has further complicated any plans to boost student enrolment in secondary schools. The government's attempt to introduce the KCSE July exam as the sole option for repeat candidates was recently halted by the High Court in Kisii. The case, filed by Magare Gikenyi, argued that the decision lacked sufficient public participation. The Kenya National Examination Council had only registered candidates for three days before the court's intervention that brought the process to a standstill. Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang confirmed compliance with the court order. "The court issued an injunction, and we've been asked to respond to the case. The Attorney General and the Ministry of Education will take the next steps, but no learner will be disadvantaged," he stated. "The only disadvantage now is that we are denying our learners an opportunity to retake exams in the fastest way possible. But since this is now a legal matter," said Kipsang. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged the concerns and revealed that consultations were ongoing to explore alternatives. "We understand that some students prefer to repeat an entire academic year before sitting the exam again, and we are discussing how best to accommodate them," he stated. Kenya Private Schools Association Chairman Charles Ochome has, however, dismissed the claim that their members target repeaters to boost mean scores. He also argued that most repeat students would prefer private schools due to the difficulty in securing admission in public schools. "Repeating is a voluntary decision; no school can go out looking for repeat students," Ochome said. Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Chairman Willy Kuria, however, disagrees that schools would reap financial gain from repeat students. "There are more than 10,000 secondary schools across the country, and while the number of repeaters is not statistically exact, it cannot exceed 10 per cent of the candidates who sat for the KCSE. This means schools can only expect, at most, 10 repeat students, which is not sustainable for supplementing the lost funds due to the decline in student population," Kuria said. The decision to restrict repeaters to the July series has sparked protests from various education stakeholders, including teachers' unions and parents' associations. "We welcome the court's decision on KCSE repeat candidates. Teachers were concerned about the short preparation period for candidates," said Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima. Private school owners have strongly criticised the suspension of the examination. "We had factored in repeaters to supplement our numbers and sustain our income. Now, this suspension is affecting school budgets," a private school director in Nakuru lamented. Repeaters are viewed as a potential avenue to boost student numbers and, in turn, increase revenue for institutions. "Public schools rely on capitation grants from the government, which are allocated per student. ''With fewer students, the schools are losing critical funding, while private schools are struggling to sustain operations due to lower fee collections," said a principal from a public secondary school in Nairobi. Some schools, particularly those seeking to maintain or improve their national rankings, were strategically targeting students who performed fairly well in previous exams but fell short of top grades. These students are individuals who, with minimal preparation, can significantly improve their grades and, in turn, elevate a school's mean score. For these institutions, this is a calculated move to secure bragging rights, attract more students, and enhance their reputation.

Schools stare at cash crisis after repeat candidate exam suspended

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