Govt to Merge Schools With Low Enrollment: CS Ogamba Warns of Ghost Institutions Draining Funds
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has sounded the alarm over ghost schools draining public funds. On Wednesday, October 1, he revealed that the government is considering merging schools with fewer than ten students to curb capitation fraud.
“We Found Ghost Schools”—Ogamba Vows to End Capitation Abuse
While addressing the Senate, Ogamba expressed concern over schools claiming heavy capitation despite having very few learners.
“We are doing something about the number of ghost schools in the country,” Ogamba stated. “Some schools have less than 10 students,” he added.
He explained that merging low-enrollment schools and separating overcrowded ones will help the Ministry allocate resources more effectively.
“We are going to interrogate whether some schools will be merged or separated,” Ogamba said.
“We’ll Fund Verified Schools Only”—Audit Nears Completion
“Resources will only be released to schools where the number of enrolled students has been verified,” he declared. “These anomalies are now being uncovered,” he added.
This move follows concerns raised by the Auditor General over inflated capitation claims.
“Distance Matters”—Concerns Rise Over Merging Logistics
Despite the bold plan, Ogamba did not explain how the government will address long distances between schools and students’ homes. Teachers and parents fear that merging schools could create accessibility challenges.
“We must consider how far children will walk,” a teacher from Baringo said. “This could hurt learning in remote areas,” a parent added.
The proposal is expected to spark intense debate among stakeholders.
“JSS Confusion Ends”—Govt to Create Comprehensive Schools
Ogamba also addressed the ongoing confusion surrounding Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). He announced that the government will establish comprehensive schools that combine primary and junior levels under one management.
“We will follow the Presidential Working Party recommendations,” Ogamba confirmed.
This move aims to streamline administration and improve learning continuity.
“Infrastructure Is Key”—Govt Allocates Ksh1.3B for School Development
To support the transition and growing enrollment, the government has allocated Ksh1.3 billion for infrastructure. Ogamba said the Ministry will also push for targeted budgetary allocations to boost Constituency Development Fund (CDF) support.
“100% transition means more pressure on infrastructure,” Ogamba noted. “We must act fast to meet demand,” he added
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Govt to Merge Schools With Low Enrollment: CS Ogamba Warns of Ghost Institutions Draining Funds
