In a significant policy shift, Kenya’s Ministry of Education has announced plans to change the collection point for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates.
Traditionally collected from individual schools, these certificates will now be available at sub-county education offices.
This move aims to prevent schools from withholding certificates due to unpaid fees, a practice that has hindered many students from accessing further education.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced these plans because he discovered reports of school principals refusing to hand over certificates even after receiving release orders.
Through centralized collection management the government aims to remove obstacles which prevent students from obtaining their academic records.
Several years of abuse by school authorities through certificate retention has plagued the educational system of Kenya.
Educational institutions maintain students’ certificates as a way to force fee payment from parents yet this practice prevents graduates from demonstrating their educational achievements.
Students who belong to low-income families have faced significant adverse effects due to this practice as it prevents them from securing jobs.
Different stakeholders including Members of Parliament support the proposed policy amendment.
Members of Parliament have asked the Ministry of Education to establish systems which will enable immediate certificate release to students since these diplomas are vital for employment and educational progression.
The new directive causes school principals to worry about its financial impact on their institutions.
The debt owed by numerous educational institutions in unpaid fees has caused principals to warn that certificate release without fee settlement could worsen their financial condition.
The government lacks a solution to resolve its financial worries resulting from the new educational policy.
The new policy emerges at a time when Kenya moves from its previous 8-4-4 structure to adopt the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
This new collection process will mostly impact groups that represent the final three cohorts using the 8-4-4 system.
It does not clarify its impact on students enrolled in the CBC because they will earn certificates in Grade 9 Junior School and Grade 12 Senior School.
The Ministry of Education is expected to provide further details on the implementation of this policy in the coming weeks.
Stakeholders are hopeful that this change will promote greater equity in the education system by ensuring all students have unimpeded access to their academic credentials.
