A new audit by the Ministry of Education has uncovered troubling gaps in the country’s education data, revealing that details for more than 500,000 learners are missing from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
The findings go beyond statistics and raise concerns about the real impact on students across the country.
Government funding for schools is largely guided by NEMIS records, meaning inaccuracies could result in genuine learners missing essential support such as textbooks, uniforms, and bursaries.
Education experts say the situation highlights weaknesses in enrolment reporting at school level. In some cases, incorrect information may have been submitted, while in others records may not have been updated at all.
Regardless of the cause, the lapses place public funds at risk and threaten equitable access to education resources.
Teachers and parents have expressed concern following the audit. Some fear that children in their communities may be excluded from vital learning materials simply because they are not properly captured in the system.
In response, the Ministry of Education has pledged to address the issue by conducting enrolment verification nationwide, improving the NEMIS platform, and training school staff to ensure accurate and consistent data entry.
The audit serves as a reminder that while digital systems are important, they must be supported by effective oversight and responsible management. Schools, administrators, and parents all share responsibility in ensuring every learner is correctly recorded.
For students, accurate data is not a technical matter—it directly affects school funding, access to resources, and equal opportunities for success.
Attention now turns to how swiftly the ministry can correct the discrepancies and ensure no learner is overlooked.
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Education