Govt Orders Immediate Release of Withheld KCSE and KCPE Certificates, Issues Strict Warning to Principals.
The Kenyan government has issued a firm directive against school principals who continue to withhold national examination certificates due to unpaid fees. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura emphasized that any school head found engaging in this unlawful practice will face both disciplinary and legal consequences.
Mwaura revealed that the Ministry of Education has tasked county directors of education with compiling a report on all uncollected academic certificates across the country. These reports are expected within a two-week deadline to help enforce compliance with the directive.
The spokesperson underscored that examination certificates belong solely to the students and that denying them access to their academic records violates their legal rights and undermines the integrity of the education system. He reiterated the government’s stance, stating that continued disregard for this policy would be met with severe penalties.
Mwaura highlighted that the act of withholding these documents infringes on children’s rights and compromises the nation’s commitment to fair and equitable education. The Ministry of Education has already been instructed to take swift action against individuals or institutions failing to comply with the order.
Education Ministry’s Reforms in Certificate Distribution
The directive aligns with recent reforms announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogomba. He indicated that the government was facilitating the collection of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) documents directly from Subcounty Education offices instead of schools. This move is aimed at preventing institutions from unlawfully retaining certificates.
Speaking earlier on March 17, Ogomba reinforced that schools have no legal mandate to withhold academic credentials and that such actions are deemed illegal under national education policy.
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Further support came from the National Assembly Committee on Education, which noted on March 19 that many young people in Kenya have been pushed into informal, untrained labor due to the lack of access to their academic documentation. The committee stressed the importance of certificate ownership in shaping future opportunities for students.
The directive also arrives as Kenya continues transitioning from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), with only three more cohorts of the former system left to sit the KCSE exams.
Govt Orders Immediate Release of Withheld KCSE and KCPE Certificates, Issues Strict Warning to Principals.
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