MPs Warn School Heads Against Defying Ministry Directive on KCPE and KCSE Certificates

MPs Warn School Heads Against Defying Ministry Directive on KCPE and KCSE Certificates.

Members of Parliament have firmly cautioned school administrators against defying the Ministry of Education’s order mandating the unconditional release of academic certificates to former students.

The directive, issued by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, instructed all public and private institutions to hand over Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates irrespective of pending school fees.

During a classroom commissioning event at St. Teresa’s Girls Primary School in Busia Town, Matayos MP Geofrey Odanga addressed principals within his jurisdiction. He warned them that withholding certificates breached the law and obstructed students’ educational progression.

Odanga pointed to the Kenya National Examination Council Act, 2012, Section 10 (1b), as the legal foundation of the directive, emphasizing that any individual or institution found violating it would face legal consequences.

“The directive applies to all schools, whether public or private. It is based on the Kenya National Examination Council Act, 2012, Section 10 (1b), which states that no certificates should be held by any institution or individual for any reason. Therefore, those in violation will face the law,” said Odanga.

In agreement, Teso South MP Mary Emase, also part of the Parliamentary Education Committee, echoed Odanga’s sentiments. She announced that if head teachers remained noncompliant, arrangements would be made for the certificates to be collected from County and Sub-County Education offices.

“If the School Principals continue withholding certificates, we are going to ensure that they submit the certificates to Education offices in the County and Sub-Counties, so that former students can collect them from there,” remarked Emase.

Emase asserted that students should not continue suffering due to unpaid fees and affirmed that action would be taken to facilitate access to the withheld documents.

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Despite the government’s firm stance, head teachers, represented by the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), pushed back against the directive. They called on the government to introduce alternative debt recovery strategies, arguing that the current system jeopardized the smooth operation of schools.

Historically, school administrators have withheld certificates as leverage to compel parents to settle fee balances. However, leaders now insist this practice must come to an end in line with the new directive.

MPs Warn School Heads Against Defying Ministry Directive on KCPE and KCSE Certificates.

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