The National Treasury has secured a Sh27.8 billion loan from the Central Bank of Kenya to address urgent financial obligations, including settling KNEC exam invigilators’ payments. Nearly Sh1 billion from this allocation will be used to pay 2024 KCSE and KPSEA exam supervisors, invigilators, and centre managers.
Additionally, the government will release Sh15 billion in capitation funds to schools, as confirmed by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. This comes amid mounting pressure to resolve delays in disbursing funds for teachers’ medical insurance scheme (MAKL), which has left hospitals owed Sh11 billion and forced many to turn away teachers or demand upfront cash payments.
Teachers Demand Higher Pay for Exam Supervision
Teachers’ unions are pushing for a major increase in KNEC exam allowances, with proposals to raise:
- Supervisors’ daily pay from Sh450 to Sh3,500 (a 778% increase).
- Centre Managers’ daily pay to Sh4,500.
- Invigilators’ daily allowance from Sh400 to Sh3,000 (a 750% increase).
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is urging KNEC to align compensation with the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for the Public Service to ensure fairness.
KNEC Exam Invigilators Await Delayed Payments
Despite KNEC compensating security officers and senior officials, teachers remain unpaid, with disbursements expected to begin in March 2024. Many educators have expressed frustration over persistent payment delays, which have, in past years, extended until the next financial budget cycle.
This week, Elias Masika, Chair of the Invigilators Association of Kenya, formally wrote to KNEC, demanding the immediate release of payments for those who supervised and invigilated the 2024 KCSE exams. He emphasized that delayed payments undermine trust in the education system and called for urgent action.
New KNEC Payment Rates for Contracted Professionals
KNEC recently revised allowances for teachers supervising and invigilating national exams after sustained pressure from unions:
- KPSEA Supervisors – Sh680 per day for 3 days (Sh2,040 total)
- KPSEA Invigilators – Sh550 per day for 3 days (Sh1,680 total)
- KCSE Supervisors – Sh680 per day for 16 days (Sh10,880 total)
- KCSE Invigilators – Sh550 per day for 16 days (Sh8,800 total)
- Centre Managers – Sh550 per day for both KPSEA and KCSE
Despite these revisions, KUPPET continues to push for higher allowances, citing the rising cost of living and the demanding nature of exam supervision.
The Significance of KNEC Supervision in Teacher Promotions
Participation in KNEC invigilation and supervision now holds greater significance as TSC assigns promotion marks to teachers involved in the process. In the latest promotion cycle, 28,000 teachers received points for their roles in national exam administration:
- Teachers who supervised, invigilated, or marked KCSE/KPSEA exams were awarded four promotion points.
As the document verification process nears completion, thousands of teachers await payments and potential promotion benefits tied to their roles in the national examinations.
