The Ministry of Education has exposed the mistakes that private schools are currently doing ahead of the national examinations. The ministry has said that the schools are registering ghost candidates for the national exams.

It noted that though both public and private schools engage in the practice, private schools are leading with the highest cases.

Nairobi Regional Director of Education, Jared Obiero, while speaking during a meeting with private schools directors and managers on Friday, he revealed that he schools that mostly engage in the practice are those with fewer candidates.

“The schools mostly in Eastleigh and Kamukunji are leading in registering ghost candidates to circumvent the government’s directive on the number of candidates required,” said Obiero.

He said the schools are doing this malpractice after the Ministry of Education asked schools with lead than 30 candidates to merge and form examination centers.

The regional education officer has henceforth directed Sub-County Education Directors to begin investigations right away on the matters and file a report with the ministry.

He asked them to conduct fiscal ad physical audit of the schools’ nominal rolls as well as inspect the learners’ registration details issued by the institutions.

Obiero said that schools found with the malpractice will b e penalized accusing them of defrauding the government and wasting public resources.

He noted that the practice is an examination irregularity and if a school is found, they will write to KNEC for appropriate action.

However, umbrella body, Kenya Private Schools Association have denied Obiero’s claims saying they are unsubstantiated.