Kisii County Governance Watch Secretary Rachael Otundo has called upon the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, to assert his authority over the release of certificates retained in secondary schools due to non-payment of school fees.
Otundo alleged that, following the Cabinet Secretary’s orders for principals to release the certificates unconditionally, some principals have not released the certificates.
“Most students, especially from poor homes, have not collected their certificates because the principals are not ready to release them until they clear the fees they owe them.” She said.
Otundo, who spoke to the public on Wednesday, stated that some teachers are demanding payment from parents to spend on their businesses without remitting the funds to the school accounts, and has asked the Ministry of Education to investigate them.
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She stated that it is illegal for schools to retain the certificates, arguing that they are overstepping the mandate of the Kenya National Examination Council.
“Matters concerning the certificates are between the individual candidates and the examination council from where they cleared by paying examination fees, and schools are mere agents of the council,” she said.
The secretary asked Ogamba to follow up on the matter with the regional directors of education and their subordinates, holding them accountable for not assisting parents and their children in reclaiming their certificates from schools.
Saying that Principals are parents too, she asked them to empathise with the poor parents and release the certificates for their children, and help them apply for placement in higher learning institutions like TVETs.
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She said that many parents reported to her office seeking assistance in obtaining the certificates.
She asked the CS to involve location chiefs and their assistants, who should compile data of students who have not received their certificates and take them to the involved schools to avoid any information distortion.
She appealed to principals to adhere to the Education CS decree of releasing the certificates to restore their waning confidence from parents.
By Enock Okong’o
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