Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has called out secondary school principals for holding candidates’ Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates and result slips.
Wamuchomba criticized principals for withholding KCSE result slips from candidates with fee balances, which saw them to lose opportunities to join higher institutions of learning. In her statement, the MP questioned the legal basis for this practice.
“Most students are losing opportunities to join universities and colleges because their result slips are withheld by secondary schools over fee arrears. Which law is this that secondary schools are using in Kenya?” she asked.
Wamuchomba said she was forced to intervene for a few students in her constituency, but she could not assist those outside Githunguri constituency.
She noted that even when parents provide all the money they can afford, schools still deny them access to the result slips.
The MP suggested that principals could find a way of converting the outstanding fees into a loan, allowing the students to join universities and pay later.
“Is building classes or buying a school bus more important than the future of a student who has already given you all they could afford? Why not make it a loan if it has to be paid?” Wamuchomba questioned.
She emphasized that the result slips are the property of the students since they pay the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for them.
Also Read: KNEC Introduces Major Changes to 2024 KCSE Exams Papers
Wamuchomba on Fee Payment
According to Wamuchomba, the payment of fees should be an agreement between the schools and the parents, without involving the students.
“KNEC result slips are not the asset of any school. If we have to claim unpaid fees, the contract was between the school and the parents, not the students, some of whom are minors,” she said.
She added that students from poor backgrounds continue to be disadvantaged by systems meant to protect them.
“I feel for the voiceless students and wish I could do more to assist,” she said.
Also Read: Why KNEC Will Offer Special KCSE Exams to 8 National Team Players After Initial Refusal
KNEC Releases 2023 KCSE Result Slips
On February 3, 2024, KNEC announced that it had released the 2023 KCSE result slips to schools for collection.
KNEC also stated that the 2022 KCPE certificates were available for collection and that they had been sent to schools that represented the students for the examinations.
The Council said parents and guardians were allowed to pick up the documents on behalf of the students.
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