- Ministry of Education issued directives and guidelines requiring schools to promptly release academic certificates to students, irrespective of any fees arrears.
- Baya said withholding of examination certificates by school heads amounts to an abuse of power.
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MPs will be seeking to establish the number of examination certificates being withheld by Principals in both public primary and secondary schools in the country since 2012.
Members of the Departmental Committee on Education will also seek to establish the reasons why the certificates are being withheld.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, who has sought a statement from the committee, noted that the Ministry of Education issued directives and guidelines requiring schools to promptly release academic certificates to students, irrespective of any fees arrears.
“Most students who are indebted to schools are from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds because their parents are unable to raise school fees and withhold their examination certificates, which is equivalent to killing their future career prospects and dreams,” he said.
He said Section 10(1)(b) of the Kenya National Examinations Council Act, 2012 prohibits any institutions or persons from withholding KNEC certificates or diplomas from any candidate.
“Sadly, implementation of the law, directives and guidelines has been wanting over the years, depriving learners of rightful access to their academic certificates, thereby impeding their path to academic advancement,” Baya added.
The Kilifi North MP said withholding of examination certificates by school heads amounts to an abuse of power.
“Education is the greatest equaliser in today’s society, therefore; examination certificates should be released to examinees to allow them to join TVETs, colleges and universities to enable them to pursue higher learning and better their lives,” he stated.
The committee will conduct an inquiry into the withholding of academic certificates contrary to Section 10(1)(b) of the Kenya National Examinations Council Act, 2012 and provide a report to the House.
Baya said the committee should recommend that the Kenya National Examination Council recall all the examination certificates held by the school head.
“Could the chairperson recommend that the Kenya National Examination Council ensure that school heads act purely as agents of the council and not abrogate their responsibilities by holding examinees at ransom?” he posed.
He further said the committee should consider recommending that the Kenya National Examination Council open examination centres in every sub-county and post officer to coordinate examinations and receive all results once they are released and have all the examinees pick them from the centres.