Education Ministry Cracks Down on Illegal Exam Feeding Levies Imposed on Parents

Kenya's Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning to school leaders nationwide. Heads of institutions must stop demanding money from parents to feed KNEC examination officials.

The Ministry stated that schools already receive sufficient funds for examination logistics previously. Third-term capitation disbursements specifically cover all costs related to feeding deployed officials.

The Kenya National Examinations Council contracts various officials during national examination administration annually. These officials require meals at examination centres across the country during assessment periods.

New Curriculum Changes Composition of Officials Deployed to Assessment Centres Throughout the Country

Under the current curriculum, KNEC no longer deploys security personnel to all centres. Security officers are now only sent to centres facing specific security threats specifically.

Most examination centres feature teachers serving as invigilators, supervisors, and centre managers primarily. Security personnel appear only at high-stakes examinations like KCSE and at threatened centres.

Dr. Elyas Abdi Jillaow, Director General for Basic Education, condemned the practice completely. The Ministry has received numerous complaints from parents about these additional unofficial charges.

Parents Allege They Have Been Asked to Pay Between 500 and 1000 Shillings

Affected parents report paying amounts ranging from Sh500 to Sh1,000 depending on assessment level. Demands vary based on whether children sit KPSEA, KJSEA, or KCSE examinations.

Some parents allege their children face threats of exam exclusion without payment. These threats constitute psychological pressure during critical examination preparation and assessment periods.

All field officers must stop illegal levy practices in their jurisdictions immediately. Any reported cases will result in direct action against responsible school administrators completely.

Illegal Levies Violate Existing Government Guidelines on Approved School Fee Structures and Charges

Any additional money demands from parents fall outside approved guidelines entirely. Such charges amount to illegal levies that breach established government policy directives.

Pending legislation addresses illegal levies including admission fees and examination-related charges specifically. The bill moves through final public participation stages before proceeding toward legislative enactment.

Culpable administrators could receive fines up to Sh1,000,000 or three years imprisonment. Some convictions could result in both financial penalties and custodial sentences simultaneously.

Proposed Legislation Represents Strictest Legal Deterrent Against Long-Standing School Levy Practices Nationwide

This bill would establish unprecedented legal consequences for imposing informal charges on parents. Such measures aim to eliminate decades-old practices of unofficial school fee collections.

Stakeholders will watch whether the bill's passage translates into consistent nationwide enforcement. Examination periods remain particularly vulnerable to illegal levy practices throughout various school institutions.