- MPs have raised concern after an audit found that Sh103.99 billion in capitation, covering FDSE, JSE and FPE, was disbursed based on unverified NEMIS learner data.
- PS John Ololtuaa acknowledged shortcomings in NEMIS and disclosed plans to replace it with a new system, KEMIS, from next year.
- The Public Accounts Committee has demanded documentation justifying the migration to KEMIS, giving the Ministry two weeks to submit it amid concerns over additional costs to taxpayers.
Members of Parliament have questioned the criteria the government uses to determine how much money to send to schools, after an audit found that learner numbers used to allocate Sh103.99 billion in capitation had not been verified.
The concern emerged when the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Butere MP Hon. Tindi Mwale, scrutinised the Auditor-General’s Report for the 2023/2024 financial year on the accounts of the State Department for Basic Education.
According to the audit report, the government disbursed Sh63.95 billion for Free Day Secondary Education, Sh30.99 billion for Junior Secondary Education and Sh9.05 billion for Free Primary Education based on learner numbers captured in the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). The Auditor-General, however, found no documentary evidence showing that the learner data had been verified by the respective Sub-County Education Offices before the funds were released.
The audit further raised concerns over the continuous updating of NEMIS, noting that the system has no clear cut-off date for determining the number of learners at a given point in time. The system also excludes learners without birth certificates and does not provide funding for learners who have attained the age of 18, raising further questions over the accuracy and completeness of the enrolment figures used to determine capitation.
ALSO READ:
Lobby group urges TSC to act on rising depression cases among North Rift, Western Kenya teachers
Appearing before the committee, Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa acknowledged shortcomings in NEMIS and disclosed that the Ministry plans to replace the system with the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) from next year. Ololtuaa said NEMIS, introduced in 2017 to digitise learner records and streamline processes including admissions, capitation and examination registration, has faced challenges such as incomplete coverage, unreliable data and limited integration with other government systems.
The disclosure triggered sharp questioning from MPs, who demanded to know how the government could accurately determine the amount of capitation required without verified learner figures. “NEMIS was introduced to digitise student records and streamline processes such as capitation disbursement. Are you saying money is disbursed to unconfirmed learners?” Mwale asked. Ololtuaa maintained that the weaknesses identified in NEMIS had not resulted in evidence of irregular capitation payments, and said the planned migration to KEMIS would strengthen verification mechanisms, improve data management and enhance controls over education financing.
ALSO READ: Maasai Mara University VC clash with MPs over audit flaws, missing officials
The committee also demanded documentation detailing the basis for the decision to migrate from NEMIS to KEMIS, amid concerns that the transition could impose additional costs on taxpayers. MPs warned the Ministry against committing public funds to a new system without demonstrating the shortcomings of the existing one and providing clear justification for the proposed migration. Ololtuaa committed to submit the requested documentation to the committee within two weeks, which the committee is expected to use to further scrutinise the management of learner data and the systems used to determine capitation allocations to schools.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
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
