Education CS directs schools to immediately release all withheld KCSE, KCPE Certificates

Education Cabinet Secretary Migos has instructed schools to release all examination certificates that have been withheld, including those for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and any KNEC certificates.

The Ministry of Education has initiated an effort to address the issue of school heads who are accused of not distributing students’ examination certificates, particularly to those who have not paid their school fees.

This action comes despite existing laws that mandate all candidates who take national examinations, including the now-defunct KCPE and KCSE, to receive their results.

Migos clarified that schools and their administrators serve merely as intermediaries for the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) in the distribution of certificates and do not have the legal authority to withhold them.

“The Ministry has communicated to all schools through the County Directors of Education, reiterating that no certificate should be withheld due to unpaid school fees,” Migos stated.

However, he noted that despite the legal requirements and circulars issued by KNEC and the Ministry, reports from field officers indicate that some schools are still withholding certificates due to outstanding fees, which is against the law.

He pointed out that many cases of withheld certificates go unreported, as affected students often try to resolve the issues directly with their schools.

“It is crucial to note that many instances of withheld certificates are not brought to the attention of the Ministry or KNEC because the affected candidates seek to settle the matters privately with their schools,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the government is considering a technological solution that would allow candidates to access their examination results directly in the future.

According to Machogu, this future system will enable institutions and third parties to verify candidates’ results from a centralized, secure source managed by KNEC.

This system will also facilitate the verification of basic education results by higher education institutions and potential employers, thereby improving transparency and efficiency in the certification process.

In the meantime, Education CS Migos has mandated all schools to release any withheld KNEC, KCPE, and KCSE certificates to candidates, with county education directors required to submit a report within 14 days.