KAKAMEGA, Kenya — Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has blamed some teachers for fuelling exam malpractice, saying most organised cheating cases are facilitated by instructors rather than students.
Speaking Tuesday during the Elimu Mashinani forum in Kakamega County, Bitok said the nature of exam irregularities has shifted over time, with teachers increasingly using mobile phones and other means to assist candidates.
“It’s unfortunate, but the reality is that all the exams are usually coded, and every learner has their own paper with a code. When these exams are being marked, you never know whose paper this is. When a whole school is penalised, it’s because there’s a trend usually facilitated by teachers,” he said.
He stressed that authorities must handle cases individually to avoid punishing innocent learners when irregularities occur at the institutional level.
Teacher numbers and distribution
Bitok said the government has employed the largest number of teachers in Kenya’s history, with 458,000 currently on the payroll serving about 12 million learners nationwide.
In Kakamega County, he said, there are 19,383 teachers against 642,000 learners — a ratio of 1:31. International standards recommend one teacher for every 35 students in secondary school and one for every 25 in primary.
“The national ratio of teachers to students is 1:26; in Kakamega, it is 1:31. When we employ the remaining 16,000, the shortage of teachers in this country will be a thing of the past,” he said.
However, he acknowledged persistent shortages in Technical and Applied subjects. He also noted that many teachers prefer urban or well-equipped schools, adding that the Ministry will engage the Teachers Service Commission to ensure equitable deployment.
STEM pathways and infrastructure
On senior school pathways, Bitok defended the government’s guidance framework, saying 51pc of learners have chosen STEM while 39pc selected social sciences. He said the goal is to align education with national development priorities.
The PS highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure, noting that 23,000 classrooms have been built over the past three years, with plans underway to construct 1,600 laboratories.
“We are keen to look at the quality of learning that takes place in these laboratories. The majority of our schools now have laboratories, but we must address schools without them,” he said.
Bitok also confirmed that the government has cleared Sh5.6 billion owed to publishers to guarantee textbook supply in public schools. He supported broader collaboration, including potential inclusion of private schools in future supply arrangements.
“Education is not a government affair; it is a multi-stakeholder effort,” he said, adding that reforms in infrastructure, staffing, and curriculum are designed to ensure equal opportunities for learners in both urban and remote areas.
