Secondary School principals in Kisumu County have lauded the government’s new policy directing that all KCPE and KCSE certificates will be collected from sub-county education offices rather than from individual schools beginning next year.
Speaking during the annual Kisumu County Heads Prayer breakfast meeting held at Tom Mboya Labour College, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Kisumu County Chairperson George Opiyo said the principals fully support the directive, noting that most unclaimed certificates are due to students’ failure to collect them, not because schools have withheld them.
“The certificates in question are not withheld but uncollected, in some cases, even people who sat for exams in the 1970s have not come for theirs. We have no problem with the policy; we have welcomed it.” he added.
Opiyo said Certificates of students will now be picked from sub-counties. “It is a government policy, and we can’t go against it,” said Opiyo.
Opiyo, who also serves as an examination centre manager, said this year’s prayer day aimed to thank God for the peace Kisumu schools have enjoyed throughout the academic year and to seek divine protection for candidates sitting their national exams starting October 21, with rehearsals set for October 17.
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“This is our second annual prayer session. We thank God for the peace, He has given us and pray for good health and calm as our students prepare for exams. Last year, after prayers, we had no exam irregularities or cancellations,” he said.
He further urged parents to ignore peddlers of fake exam papers, warning that those falling victim are often students who were irregular in attendance.
“We want to discourage those who sell fake papers. Parents should not panic; we have taught the students well. It’s those who missed school who are now anxious,” added Opiyo.
He urged for caution against irregularities noting that it goes a long way in eroding the credibility of examinations.
Opiyo called for delivery of credible examinations as the national tests kick off in earnest.
He particularly urged school principal and center managers to ensure that no irregularities are detected in their respective learning institutions.
This comes after the government announced the new measure to curb the practice of schools retaining certificates over unpaid fees and to ensure that all learners can access their academic documents without hindrance.
“The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will dispatch the certificates directly to sub-county offices for distribution.”
By Fredrick Odiero
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