The suspension of the newly introduced Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) July examination for repeat candidates has sparked fresh financial concerns for schools.
Both public and private secondary schools are grappling with a sharp decline in student enrollment this year, primarily due to the absence of Form One admissions. This downturn has resulted in significant financial strain, as public institutions depend on government funding per student, while private schools rely on tuition fees to sustain operations.
The restriction on repeat candidates has further complicated efforts to maintain student numbers and revenue streams in secondary schools.
The government’s attempt to introduce the KCSE July exam as the only option for repeat candidates was recently halted by a ruling from the High Court in Kisii. The case, filed by Magare Gikenyi, challenged the decision on grounds of inadequate public participation.
Before the court intervention, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had only registered candidates for three days, leaving thousands in limbo.
Principal Secretary for Basic Education Belio Kipsang confirmed that the government would comply with the court ruling.
“The court has issued an injunction, and we are required to respond to the case. The Attorney General and the Ministry of Education will determine the next course of action, but no student will be disadvantaged,” Kipsang assured.
“The only downside is that we are limiting opportunities for learners to retake exams within the shortest possible time. However, since this is now a legal matter, we must respect the judicial process,” he added.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged concerns from various stakeholders and confirmed ongoing discussions to explore alternative solutions.
“We recognize that some students prefer to repeat an entire academic year before sitting the exam again, and we are reviewing options to accommodate them,” Ogamba stated.
Despite speculation that private schools deliberately target repeat candidates to boost their mean scores, Kenya Private Schools Association Chairman Charles Ochome dismissed such claims.
“Repeating is a voluntary decision; no school actively recruits repeat students. In many cases, repeat candidates opt for private institutions because securing readmission in public schools is often challenging,” Ochome said.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Chairman Willy Kuria also refuted suggestions that repeat students significantly contribute to school finances.
“There are over 10,000 secondary schools across the country, and while exact statistics on repeat candidates remain unclear, they are unlikely to exceed 10 per cent of total KCSE candidates. This means that, on average, schools might only enroll a handful of repeat students, which is insufficient to offset funding gaps caused by declining enrollment,” Kuria explained.
The decision to restrict repeat candidates to the July exam series has faced resistance from key education stakeholders, including teachers’ unions and parents’ associations.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima welcomed the court’s intervention, arguing that teachers were concerned about the limited preparation time for candidates under the new structure.
Private school owners have also voiced strong objections to the suspension, citing its financial implications.
“We had factored repeat candidates into our enrollment projections to maintain revenue. Now, this suspension is disrupting our budgets,” lamented a private school director in Nakuru.
For many institutions, repeat candidates were seen as a crucial means of sustaining student numbers and securing financial stability.
“Public schools depend on government capitation grants, which are allocated per student. With fewer enrollments, they face significant budget shortfalls, while private institutions are struggling to remain viable due to lower fee collections,” noted a principal from a public secondary school in Nairobi.
Some schools, particularly those focused on improving their academic rankings, had strategically targeted students who had performed moderately well but aimed for higher grades. These candidates, with minimal additional preparation, could significantly enhance the institution’s overall performance.
For such schools, this approach was a calculated strategy to improve their standing, attract new enrollments, and enhance their reputation. However, with the suspension of the July exam, institutions now face uncertainty in managing both academic and financial sustainability.
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