DP William Ruto’s order on certificates sparks row as school heads ask for cash

Deputy President William Ruto holds three-year-old Njambi Tharuma when he visited Pioneer School in Muranga. He was accompanied by Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. [PHOTO: DPPS]

NAIROBI, KENYA: National Examinations Act seeking to make it illegal for anyone to withhold both primary and secondary schools certificates. The amendment was unanimously passed by the House then.

Following the move former President Kibaki's administration then in 2006 ordered school heads to release the certificates, a move that saw hundreds of certificates handed to past candidates. However, after President Kibaki handed over power to President Uhuru the situation changed and schools resumed withholding the certificates.

Two weeks ago, Musila sponsored another Motion now at the Senate which required the Government to follow the law by instructing the school heads against breaking the law through withholding school certificates. It was passed unanimously.

According to Musila Section 10 of the National Examinations Act prohibits anyone from withholding both KCPE and KCSE certificates.

And sources at the school fees task force constituted by Education Cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi told The Standard that the school fees arrears issue was discussed extensively in one of the meetings.

"This was a major issue and it was realised that the total amount of money owed to schools in terms of school fees arrears is Sh14 billion. But it was agreed that we shelve it for now and leave it to schools because it is so complicated," said a committee member who attended all the task force meetings.

Former Education Assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria chairs the task force whose proposals the two main teachers' unions have already rejected.

Secondary school principals Monday said they will comply with the directive but noted that it will affect running of schools.

"Teachers cannot ignore a Government directive. In fact, no teacher prides in keeping students certificates. But there will be challenges in implementing this directive," said Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) national chairman John Awiti.

He argued that the Government can do good to schools by releasing the monies owed by students first to ensure schools operate normally.

Awiti noted that failure to send the cash to schools will see some principals taken to court for failure to settle debts for services rendered to students.

"We have sundry creditors resulting from sundry debtors. If the school kept the student for four years and gave them the services yet they cannot pay for them, schools incur debts," he said.

He expressed fears that many teachers will be taken to court because they will not have a vote head to clear sundry creditors.

Monday, while officiating the 50th anniversary celebrations for Murang'a High School, Ruto said the Government will settle fees arrears and asked secondary school principals to release the certificates under their custody immediately.

Kenya Union of Post Education Teachers (Kuppet), however, dismissed the directive as populist even as the parents association said the move was long overdue.

"These are road show directives that cannot fit under the current circumstances. How can a principal release certificate of a student who owes the school Sh70,000," asked Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori.

He said the school may have also paid some Sh6,000 examination fees for same student yet the State only remits Sh10,265 to schools as capitation.

"Let him know how schools are run first. Let the Government pay the arrears first then ask students to pick their papers,'' advised Misori, adding that there will be a lot of charity work in schools.

Ruto said the Government had taken the responsibility to help pupils with fees arrears to that they could access their certificates.

"We are directing all school heads to release all certificates in their custody to owners as fees arrears will be settled," Ruto directed.

The Deputy President said the Government is committed to reducing cost of education to make it affordable to all Kenyans.

"Within three years, this country will offer free secondary education to every young Kenyan of age," promised Ruto.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) said they will issue a comprehensive statement today.

"We will consult and issue a statement tomorrow (Tuesday)," said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

Kenya National Parents and Teachers Association, however, asked parents to send their children to schools immediately to pick the certificates.

"There are many children who have been locked out of interviews and jobs because of fees arrears. This is good news and they should not delay," said association chairman Nathan Barasa.

He said the Government will make education free once the recommendations of the task force are implemented. In his statement, Ruto said no child will be out of school over fees irrespective of social status.

The DP said that funds available for education will be increased sharply in the coming budgets to enable students acquire quality education.

"We want primary and secondary education to be truly free in every sense of the word,'' said the deputy president.

Secondary school teachers, however, said the Government was precipitating a huge crisis that it may not be able to manage.

"What message are they sending to parents who have students in school now? They may as well not pay fees because they know the Government will pay for their children's certificates,"