The Ministry of Education has revealed that some schools are registering non-existent Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates.
Nairobi County Regional Director of Education, Jared Obiero, warned private schools that they are the main culprits.
The director warned the schools during a meeting he held with directors and managers of private schools.
When the government has directed schools with less than 30 candidates to merge with neighbouring schools to form one examination centres, private schools were allegedly culpable of registering ghost candidates.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer Mercy Karogo ordered the schools that did not meet the requirement to register students in neighbouring schools.
Most of the schools under the microscope for flouting the guidelines were schools located in Eastleigh and Kamukunji areas. They have been reported to register non-existent learners to try and bypass the Ministry of Education’s directive on the minimum number of candidates required per examination centre.
“You who have registered ghost candidates to try and bypass the government’s directive on the (minimum) number of candidates required (per examination centre),” noted KNEC CEO Nancy Karogo.
Consequently, Jared Obiero instructed Sub-County Directors immediately investigate the matter and then file a report with the Ministry of Education as soon as possible.
The officers will carry out fiscal and physical audits of the nominal rolls of the schools. Besides, they will go through all registration details that the schools will provide.
“We are causing unjustified wastage on the economy. This is an examination irregularity and if found culpable KNEC will be informed to take action,” Obiero warned the schools.
However, the Kenya Private Schools Association on the other hand refuted the allegations arguing that they are baseless,”
There had been reports during the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) that a certain school had hired teachers to sit for examinations on behalf of the real KCSE candidates.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha revealed that police officers would be deployed at every examination centre and other police officers would also be patrolling to make arrests in case of any cheating incident.
“I will not be warning you anymore, if you are courageous enough to cheat in the (national examinations) you will be arrested and thrown into prison,” declared CS Magoha.