More than 43,223 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates remain uncollected in various secondary schools across Kwale County, a situation that has alarmed education officials.
The new development follows a government directive instructing school principals to release students’ certificates free of charge.
The county’s Director of Education, Ahmed Abdi, confirmed the backlog, noting that some of the certificates date back more than a decade.
Some of the affected schools are Kwale High and Matuga Girls National schools, Kaya Tiwi High, Kwale Girls, Waa Girls, Lunga-Lunga Secondary, Mwavumbo secondary and Ramisi among many others.
Abdi said the number of unclaimed documents is significantly higher than the current enrolment of all Form Four candidates in the region.
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“This is a serious concern because certificates are essential documents that open doors for further education, employment, and other life opportunities. Unfortunately, thousands of youths are missing out simply because they have not picked them up,” said Abdi.
He attributed the issue to a combination of factors including lack of awareness, and parents reluctant in urging their children to pick the crucial documents.
Abdi added that some students may not understand the long-term value of the certificate if they didn’t perform well in the exams.
He said there is a wrong perception among students that if one scores a low grade, the certificate is of no use which is not true.
Abdi urged the students to go for their certificates even with lower grades, the document is still vital for skills training programs, job applications, and other government services.
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He also called for education stakeholders to launch campaigns to trace and contact former students, urging them to collect their certificates.
“Local chiefs, village elders, and religious leaders help us with sensitization efforts so these students can go for their certificates,” said Abdi.
He further warned that any school principal who denies students access to their certificates due to outstanding fees or other payment issues would be violating the government’s directive.
Abdi assured that the government is committed to ensuring every eligible student has access to their academic credentials.
By Omar Shaban
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