Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Migos Ogamba has allayed fears that parents will pay for their children’s examination fees following the budget cuts for the Ministry.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony at Kiirua Technical Training Institute, Ogamba said that the government was determined to ensure that no child was left behind in terms of payment of examination fees and that they were working towards ensuring that the exam money is included in the budget.
“Parents will not pay for examination fees and we are discussing with the Treasury and other parties to ensure that we get the correct figure that is efficiently going to be used in a manner that there is no wastage,” said CS Ogamba.
He added that the figure for the exams was omitted from the budget but discussions were underway to ensure it was included.
CS Ogamba added: “Last year also, there was no funding for the examination but we were able to get it in the subsequent supplementary budget and this is normal in the sector,” he noted.
Concerns and confusion hit the public after reports revealed that national exams, including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), might be interrupted following a Sh62 billion shortfall in the education sector.
Besides KCSE, other examinations affected by the lack of funding include the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA) and Junior Secondary School (JSS).
Members of the National Assembly raised the alarm over the lack of budget allocation for examination preparation and invigilation in the 2025/26 national budget.
The budget cuts have impacted several critical areas, including quality assurance, which received no allocation; junior school capitation, facing a Sh14.7 billion shortfall; and the Free Primary Education programme, which has a deficit of Sh1.2 billion.
On Technical and Vocational Education Training, the CS said the Ministry has embarked on a journey of the modularisation of the Competency-Based Education and Training curricula.
“Firstly, modularisation enhances flexibility and accessibility. Not every trainee can afford to commit years to a full course due to financial or personal constraints,” he noted.
“With a modular approach, trainees can acquire specific, industry-relevant skills in manageable segments and return later to build on them. This “learn and return” model supports lifelong learning and accommodates diverse trainees,” CS Ogamba said.
Secondly, he added, the industry needs are rapidly evolving and employers are not just looking for qualifications, but competencies.
“By structuring our curriculum into skill sets, we ensure that trainees gain tangible, measurable abilities that are immediately applicable in the workplace. This also allows employers to upskill or reskill their workforce efficiently,” he said.
He further said that the Ministry has also requested for resources in the 2025/26 financial year budget in order to employ 5,800 trainers for TVETs.
“We are also in the process of amending the Act based on the Presidential Working Group recommendations in order to have a TVET council in place,” Ogamba said.
By Dickson Mwiti
