20 school heads face disciplinary action over ghost learners scandal

Appearing before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Basic Education PS Julius Bitok indicated that the ministry has also begun the disciplinary process for other ministry officials.

The PS was also grilled on reports of overcrowding in schools, where the well-being of learners is jeopardised.

One week after the Ministry of Education released findings of the school data verification report, PS Bitok faced the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee to elaborate on interventions taken so far.

The report had shown the over-reporting of 885,904 pupils in primary schools and 87,730 learners in secondary schools, putting into sharp focus the data submitted to the National Education Management Information System by different heads of institutions.

"We have given show cause letters to 28 sub-county officers to explain why there were ghost learners in their areas. We have sent letters to TSC to take action on 20 heads of institutions for inflating their numbers," Bitok noted. 

The recent enrolment of grade 10 learners also blew open the lid on overcrowding in schools, where some schools had an influx of new admissions while others recorded dismal numbers. The committee grilled the PS on how the situation could be averted.

"We cannot have schools where students are eating in shifts because the ministry says capacity is capacity in schools," stated Clive Gisairo.

"We need to have a national conversation on overcrowding in schools. There are about 20 national schools with over 50,000 learners in senior school," Bitok added. 

The ministry, however, made a case for the prompt release of money to offset preparations for national examinations.

"We have requested Ksh.14 billion this year for examinations but we have been given Ksh.9.9 billion. We have a deficit of about Ksh.4.8 billion. We are requesting for the committee to intervene early. Last year we had nil," the PS highlighted. 

Other matters that came up include the release of money for co-curricular activities, with the ministry saying it is awaiting the release of funds from the sports fund, as it had depleted the Ksh.374 million allocated this financial year.