Nemis has data for just half of learners

What you need to know:

  • The report indicates that data on only 3.28 million primary students, out of a targeted 8.89 million, has been captured.

  • This means that about 5 million pupils are not accounted for.

  • The government provides Sh1,420 capitation for every pupil in a public school per year.

The Ministry of Education's National Education Management Information System (Nemis) has captured information on only 50 per cent of the learners in both public and private schools since February last year, raising concerns on the possibility of schools having ghost students.

A report presented to the National Assembly’s Education Committee by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang on Tuesday indicates that data on only 6.8 million learners, out of a possible 13 million, has been captured.

Education ministry officials were at pains to explain why it has taken more than a year to capture all learners’ data.

The report indicates that data on only 3.28 million primary students, out of a targeted 8.89 million, has been captured. This means that about 5 million pupils are not accounted for. The government provides Sh1,420 capitation for every pupil in a public school per year.

In secondary schools, only 2.47 million students’ data has been captured, against a target of 2.8 million. The PS said that the ministry is still capturing data. The government provides Sh22,244 as capitation per student in secondary schools, yet some 400,000 students’ data is not in the system.

Dr Kipsang said that 188,519 students in private secondary schools and 932,179 pupils in private primary schools have been registered.

Meanwhile, 1,169 learners in public nursery schools and 2,252 in private nursery schools have also been registered.

He also identified several challenges, among them slow and unreliable Internet connection in schools. To address the problem, he said, schools should get 3G connection.

He also cited lack of network connection in remote areas, saying, the solution is to diversify or substitute Internet access channels and service providers.

He also disclosed that there is resistance to change in some schools, as well as inadequate ICT skills among headteachers and their deputies.

The PS said that lack of birth certificates is also a  challenge.

Dr Kipsang said that some of the benefits of Nemis are a single source of truth on education data regarding education institutions and learners, guaranteed confidentiality, and correct and complete data.

“The number of institutions per category is now clear as the source is now simplified and centrally managed. Each institution has a unique code, with provision to assign more than 1.2 million institutions through Nemis,” he said.