Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga has issued a stern warning to secondary school principals defying the Ministry of Education’s directive on the unconditional release of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)certificates to former students.
Speaking at St. Teresa’s Girls Primary School in Busia town during the commissioning of a grade nine classroom, Odanga emphasized that withholding certificates is both illegal and detrimental to students’ educational and career progress.
“Withholding certificates is a violation of the law and a barrier to students’ future opportunities. Those who defy this directive will face the full force of the law,” he warned.
His remarks align with the directive issued by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who recently ordered all public and private schools to release both Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and KCSE certificates, regardless of any outstanding school fees.
The directive is backed by the Kenya National Examination Council Act, 2012, Section 10 (1b), which explicitly prohibits any institution or individual from withholding these certificates.
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Teso South MP Mary Emase, a member of the Parliamentary Education Committee, echoed Mp Odanga’s sentiments, warning that schools failing to comply would have to surrender the certificates to County and Sub-County Education offices for direct collection by students.
“If principals persist in withholding certificates, we will ensure they are handed over to the County and Sub-County Education offices so that students can access them without hindrance,” Emase stated.
However, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) has pushed back against the directive, urging the government to establish alternative measures for debt recovery to safeguard school operations.
Principals argue that without a structured repayment mechanism, schools will struggle to function effectively.
The standoff underscores the ongoing debate between enforcing education rights and addressing financial sustainability in schools, as stakeholders await further action from the Ministry of Education.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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