Ministry cracks down on school data fraud as 20 head teachers face action

Basic Education PS Julius Bitok/HANDOUT

The government has intensified its crackdown on schools found to have inflated student enrolment figures.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said disciplinary action has already been taken against 20 headteachers across the country.

The action, approved by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, targets school administrators accused of falsifying enrolment data to unlawfully benefit from government capitation funds.

Speaking in Nakuru, Bitok said the government will not tolerate the misuse of public resources meant to support learners.

“We are committed to ensuring accountability at all levels. Any individual found culpable will face the full force of the law,” he said.

He noted that inflating enrolment figures not only diverts resources but also undermines planning and the delivery of quality education.

Accurate data remains critical in ensuring equitable allocation of funds, teachers and learning materials across schools.

Bitok also addressed concerns raised by students over shortages of textbooks in some schools with students expressing fears that the gap could affect their preparations for national examinations.

He said the Ministry of Education will roll out a new digital tracking system within a month to streamline textbook distribution. The system, he said, will enable real-time monitoring to ensure learning materials reach intended schools without delays.

He added that immediate interventions were also being implemented through regional directors of education to address shortages in the most affected areas.

“We are undertaking reforms to make book distribution more efficient and transparent. Affirmative measures are already in place to ensure that no learner is disadvantaged,” he said.

Bitok defended the Competency-Based Education (CBE), describing it as the most progressive and transformative system Kenya has ever adopted.

He said the curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, innovation and practical skills among learners, shifting focus from rote learning to the development of individual competencies and talents.

“I am speaking from experience as a professor and as someone who has travelled across many countries. There is no other education system better suited for our learners than CBE,” he said.

He added that CBE allows learners to grow based on their strengths and abilities while equipping them to meet modern-day challenges through skills development and innovation.