- Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry knows its numbers, but it is seeking to verify them through the census.
- He noted that the exercise will involve 670 enumerators across all 47 counties.
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The Ministry of Education has launched a nationwide survey for basic education institutions in Kenya set to take place for the next 50 days.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry knows its numbers, but it is seeking to verify them through the census.
"We are confirming the figures that are there, in terms of checking our school registers, checking number of teachers, infrastructure. It is quite a comprehensive exercise," he said.
He spoke on Thursday at Moi Girls Nairobi where he officially launched the school survey exercise.
Belio said the ministry will visit all schools across the country in the census.
He said the exercise is a multiagency one with combined efforts from the Ministry of Education and Treasury and Planning.
The PS said once the exercise is complete, the ministry will release a report.
"We shall be completing this exercise in terms of visiting schools and all others by the time the schools close. But within a time frame of 50 days, we should have been able to collect all the data and analyse it. We will then start preparing a report that will be shared nationally," Belio said.
The PS said the census is not just about the number of teachers and learners, but that it seeks more detailed information in terms of resources in the institutions of learning.
"The census is so detailed, it is about the number of learners and even as we go into the numbers, we would want to see how many of our children are special needs, how many are talented," he said.
Belio said the survey will also look into the number of desks in classrooms, whether adequate or not. It will also check the book ratio per learner.
"As we said we have a one-to-one ratio. Do we have adequate books in our schools? Do we have adequate teachers and within the teachers the subject they teach? When we say we have 400,000 teachers, what do they teach ?" he said.
Belio said the ministry seeks to know whether schools have adequate resources all around.
"The purpose of the school census is clear: to gather accurate and comprehensive data about our students, teachers, infrastructure, and resources," he said.
Belio termed the expected data as the bedrock upon which the ministry will build our plans, policies, and strategies to enhance the educational landscape.
He said accurate data is indispensable.
" The data will allow us to understand where resources are most needed and to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education," he said.
Belio said the survey will require the active participation of all stakeholders.
"I call upon school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to cooperate fully with this process," he said.
Economic Planning Principal Secretary James Muhati said the exercise is being conducted in up to 80,000 schools.
"The budget is estimated to be Sh300 million for about 50 days until the exercise comes to an end," he said.
He noted that the exercise will involve 670 enumerators across all 47 counties.