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Parliament restores Ksh5.1 billion for 2024 KPSEA & KCSE administration

Parliament restores Ksh5.1 billion for 2024 KPSEA & KCSE administration

The National Assembly on Saturday approved the request of Basic Education (PS) Secretary Belio Kipsang to restore the 5.1 billion Kenyan shillings earmarked for the conduct of national examinations.

PS Kipsang had noted that if the money was not available, the hinder the organization and supervision of national examinations.

The examination dates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) therefore remained uncertain.

The National Assembly’s Education Committee submitted a proposal to make available again the money that had been cut by the Ministry of Finance.

Chief Secretary Education Belio Kipsang

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Ministry of Education

“On the allocation for supervision and management of the national examinations, the commission proposed to restore Ksh5.1 billion to ensure the smooth conduct of the national examinations scheduled for this year,” a statement from the National Assembly said.

If the committee had not accepted Kipsang’s proposals, more than 3 million students would have been affected by the change in dates.

This includes 1,264,842 pupils from group 3, 1,313,913 KPSEA pupils and 965,501 KCSE students.

“The funds will be used to pay for supervision and monitoring as well as the cost of examiners,” Kipsang had earlier requested, adding that the reintroduction would be in line with government policy on free and compulsory primary education.

According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the KCSE will officially commence on Monday, November 11, with candidates sitting for the English (Functional Skills) exam.

The KCSE exams end on Friday 22nd July, when students will have to take the Physics (Practical) exam.

The KPSEA exams, on the other hand, will begin on October 25 and end on October 30.

The National Assembly on Saturday further committed to the budget allocation for the transition of 46,000 interns to permanent positions and pensionable contracts.

According to the Education Committee, the teachers of the lower secondary school (JSS) will be permanently employed under the internship program this budget year.

Chairperson of the Budget and Allocation Committee Ndindi Nyoro receives submissions from the NA Departmental Education Committee on July 20, 2024.

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Committees of the National Assembly