Release Withheld KCPE, KCSE Certificates or Face Action, CS Ogamba Warns Schools.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to school principals against withholding KCPE and KCSE certificates of students who have completed their examinations. He emphasized that retaining these crucial documents is illegal, regardless of the justification given by school administrations.
Ogamba stated that holding certificates over unpaid school fees, lost books, or property damage violates Kenyan law. He reiterated his directive for all withheld certificates, some held for over a decade, to be released immediately. He stressed that principals should find alternative ways to recover outstanding dues instead of denying students access to their documents.
The CS reaffirmed that the 14-day deadline for releasing withheld certificates remains in effect. He warned that necessary action would be taken against institutions that fail to comply. The directive applies to both public and private learning institutions, aligning with the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Act of 2012.
“Holding a students Certificate when they have completed school on the basis of either school fees or that a student lost a book, or a student broke a window is illegal. I gave a directive that all the certificates that have been withheld and some I understand for over 10years, need to be released and those principles need to get other methods of recovering whatever dues that might have arisen,” Ogamba said.
Alternative Solutions for Schools
Ogamba advised principals to explore legal channels to recover debts instead of withholding certificates. He suggested that schools could pursue court action where necessary.
The directive comes as the government considers transferring the custody of school certificates from institutions to education officers, ensuring students can access their academic credentials without restrictions.
Release Withheld KCPE, KCSE Certificates or Face Action, CS Ogamba Warns Schools
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