Headteachers and the Ministry of Education are locked in a heated blame game over ‘ghost students’ after a nationwide audit revealed discrepancies in school enrollment figures.
The dispute came to the forefront during the Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) conference in Mombasa, where educators accused the ministry of unfairly shifting responsibility for errors in school data.
“It is absurd to hear the ministry blame headteachers for inflated enrolment numbers when government officials are deployed across counties and sub-counties,” said a Nairobi-based headteacher.
Teachers argued that keeping accurate records is ultimately the government’s responsibility. “Blaming headteachers for inflated numbers is unfair. These delays disrupt school operations and affect thousands of learners,” one participant said.
ALSO READ;
Primary heads urged to protect student data to enhance safety and security
The controversy follows a nationwide audit aimed at verifying enrolment figures, school registration, and headteacher postings. While the ministry maintained that delays were due to errors in data submission and misclassified schools, headteachers insisted that the system itself is flawed.
Acting ICT Chief Paul Odhiambo explained that schools had submitted data using incorrect formats or identification codes, which led to misclassification. The ministry had deployed a three-tier digital verification system: one for school data and GPS coordinates, a second for sub-county mapping, and a third for ministry headquarters oversight.
“It is painful to have thousands of schools categorized as not having submitted data when they actually did,” he said.
Even with these explanations, headteachers say accountability should rest with government officials, not school leaders, calling the blame game a distraction from solving systemic issues.
ALSO READ;
Majority of Grade 9 learners opt for STEM ahead of senior school transition
Many schools applying for funding for the first time also face bureaucratic hurdles, including submitting original forms, registration certificates, Board of Management minutes, and bank account details.
The standoff highlights deep tensions in Kenya’s education sector, where digital systems meant to streamline processes have instead fueled disputes over responsibility and transparency.
As the audit report is set to be released, all eyes remain on whether the Ministry will address headteachers’ concerns or continue to place the burden on educators.
By Mercy Kokwon
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
