Advocacy Groups Demand Action on Withheld KCSE Certificates
Civil Society organizations in the Nyanza region are calling on the Ministry of Education to take action against secondary schools that detain the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates of former students.
These organizations argue that the withholding of certificates has caused significant distress among affected youth, preventing them from pursuing further education and career opportunities.
This issue was a focal point of the recent annual education conference organized by the Elimu Yetu Coalition in collaboration with the Forum for African Women Educationalists Kenya (FAWEK) in Homa Bay Town.
The conference brought together education rights advocates from all six counties in the Nyanza region, including Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kisii, Siaya, Migori, and Nyamira.
The participants unanimously resolved that the Ministry of Education must intervene to ensure the release of certificates to Form Four leavers.
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They emphasized that detaining these certificates is not only illegal but also detrimental to the future prospects of many young people.
Voices from the Conference
Key figures at the conference expressed their concerns and called for immediate action:
- Kennedy Oyier, Chairman of the Homa Bay County Education Network, highlighted the psychological impact on students whose certificates are withheld. He stated that the continued detention of certificates is an illegality that could devastate the lives of promising students.
- Chris Owala, Executive Director of the Community Initiative Action Group Kenya, attributed the withholding of certificates to unauthorized levies imposed by school principals. He argued that such levies, including development fees, unfairly penalize students from impoverished backgrounds and hinder their academic and professional pursuits.
- Mercy Odhiambo, Coordinator of the Kenya Women Teachers Association in Homa Bay, stressed the urgency of releasing certificates. She urged the Ministry of Education to compel schools to distribute certificates promptly to enable students to plan their futures effectively.
Causes and Consequences of Withholding Certificates
According to Owala, the imposition of illegal levies by secondary school head teachers is a major factor leading to the detention of certificates.
He emphasized that students from low-income families are disproportionately affected, as they are unable to pay these levies and consequently have their certificates withheld.
This practice denies them access to higher education and employment opportunities, further exacerbating their socio-economic challenges.
The civil society groups have launched a campaign to pressure the Ministry of Education into enforcing the release of KCSE certificates.
They highlighted the Basic Education Act, which clearly prohibits the detention of student certificates by schools.
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The campaign aims to ensure that all students receive their certificates promptly upon completing their examinations.
Ms. Odhiambo also highlighted the need for equality in educational opportunities and resources.
She advocated for measures that support both male and female students, such as providing sanitary pads for girls and boxers for boys, to promote a balanced learning environment.
Advocacy Groups Demand Action on Withheld KCSE Certificates
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