Machogu Explains Why Some Top KCPE Candidates Will Miss Govt Sponsorship
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has affirmed that not all 173,345 KCPE candidates who scored C+ or higher will receive government sponsorship.
This means that parents will have to dig deeper into their pockets.
On Saturday, January 21, Machogu told the media that the level of funding has remained steady despite a six-year increase in the number of students.
According to the CS, the Ministry is only allotted 25% of the budget; hence, it must employ strict procedures to serve only the poor.
“The level of funding has remained the same yet the number has more than doubled since 2016. The Ministry of Education (MoE) takes 25 per cent of the national budget. If we are to sponsor everybody, it could rise to 35 per cent,” he told Nation.
Given the increase in the number of students taking national examinations, the CS said that the government has not yet devised a formula for university funding.
He affirmed that his Ministry would adhere to the recommendations of the presidential task committee, whose final report is released in March 2023.
According to the Ministry, 173,345 KCPE candidates earned a grade of C+ or higher and were consequently admitted to university.
The CS has however stated that the government is unable to provide sponsorship for all students.
On January 4, 2023, while speaking to journalists at State House, President William Ruto announced that a new policy will be established to restrict government aid to students who cannot afford it.
“We have students in academies who pay Ksh200,000 a term but when they go to university, we tell them we can pay for all of them. Why?
"If a parent is able to pay for their child in primary and in secondary, why don’t we allow them to pay for their child in university so that we support the children of the people who cannot afford,” Ruto previously stated.
While announcing the KCSE results, the CS broke from the customary practice of naming the top schools and candidates in the national examination.
Friday, January 20, Machogu stated at Mtihani House that the government had decided to release exam results early to help students to prepare for the move to higher education institutions.
“As I have already stated 841,416 candidates sat for 2022 KCSE examinations compared to 826,807 candidates in 2021,” Machogu stated.
Machogu Explains Why Some Top KCPE Candidates Will Miss Govt Sponsorship