The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued a firm directive to County Directors of Education to submit detailed reports explaining discrepancies in student enrollment figures following a nationwide verification exercise conducted in September and October.
In a circular signed by Head of the Secondary Education Directorate, Dr. William Sugut, the ministry revealed that the audit uncovered major variances between learner data captured in the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on April 22, 2025, and figures submitted by school heads through KoboLink for the third term.
These inconsistencies, the ministry noted, directly affect the calculation and disbursement of Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) funds, raising concerns over the integrity of school enrolment records and potential misuse of public resources.
The Ministry explained that the review was necessary as the same data used during the verification exercise had been the basis for releasing FDSE capitation funds to schools.
The discrepancies identified across several institutions have therefore prompted the government to demand accountability and transparency from school administrators.
In the directive, the PS instructed County Directors to immediately obtain detailed written explanations from affected school principals, supported by verifiable documentation.
Each school is required to present certified class registers spanning the past four years to demonstrate actual attendance trends and justify the reported figures.
Additionally, principals must provide signed acknowledgement lists confirming which students benefitted from FDSE funds in the first and second terms of 2025, as well as a certified schedule of learners who appeared in the January and May 2025 school registers but were missing from the third term submission.
The Ministry further requires proof of FDSE funds received for all three terms of 2025, accompanied by corresponding bank statements, to ensure that disbursements align with verified student data.
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These measures, according to the circular, are part of the government’s commitment to safeguarding public funds, enforcing data accuracy, and enhancing transparency in school management systems.
The county directors have been instructed to submit both soft and hard copies of the reports and accompanying evidence to the Ministry by October 31, 2025.
Failure to comply within the stipulated deadline may trigger disciplinary action, given the financial and administrative implications of falsified or inaccurate reporting.
The move underscores the government’s intensified crackdown on irregularities in school funding and emphasizes the importance of accurate learner registration under the competency-based education monitoring framework.
As the deadline approaches, school heads across the country are racing to compile their enrolment records in line with the Ministry’s stringent accountability requirements.
By Philip Koech
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