Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba on Tuesday called out school principals over a recent trend showing some of them have been withholding students’ certificates and result slips over school fees arrears.
Taking to her X account, the vocal legislator accused the school heads of holding the vital documents from students with fee balances, claiming it made most students lose opportunities to join universities and colleges.
According to Wamuchomba, this section of school principals are committing a crime since there was no constitutional provision that allowed principals and school heads to cling on to the documents in any given scenario.
The MP revealed she was forced to intervene for some of the students in her constituency who had encountered such. The MP regretted she was unable to do the same for those outside her sub-county.
“Most students are losing opportunities to join universities and colleges because their results slips are withheld by secondary schools over fees arrears. Which law is this that secondary schools are using in Kenya?” the MP questioned.
“You mean building classes or buying a school bus is more important than the future of a student who already gave you all they could afford?”
Wamuchomba went ahead to question whether the outstanding fee balances could be converted into loans for students to pay later.
According to the MP, a result slip is the property of a pupil or student and not an asset of the school where they pursue their learning.
While insisting on the matter, the lawmaker noted that the fee payment was a contract between the school and the parents and should not involve students.
“Unfortunately the students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to be disadvantaged by systems meant to rescue them,” Wamuchomba claimed.
“I feel for the voiceless students. Wish I could do more to assist," the MP added.
MP Wamuchomba's sentiments come against the backdrop of concerns over the slow enrollment of students to universities despite the government's directive permitting the admission of learners to institutions of higher learning despite non-payment of fees.
In his August 21 directive, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos reiterated that all students qualified for admission were guaranteed admission irrespective of their ability to immediately pay the household contribution.
"The Ministry of Education wishes to inform all students who have qualified for university admission that they are guaranteed a place in their chosen institutions, irrespective of their ability to immediately pay the household contribution. Vice-Chancellors of public universities have therefore been directed to admit all qualified students without exception," read the notice in part.
