Teacher Union, Busia branch opposes govt's order to release withheld certificates

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Busia branch has dared the County Director of Education Mary Atalitsa to implement the Government's directive on the release of withheld KCSE certificates.

The union's secretary Mark Oseno said he will lead a teachers strike in the county if the CD will force principals to release the certificates.

Atalitsa confirmed that she had received a circular signed by the Education Cabinet Secretary, Jacob
Kaimenyi mandating school heads to release the certificates unconditionally.

“Yes, it is true I received the circular from the CS for onward deliveries to sub County Education officers who will then to hand them over to the principals. I have not received any complaints so far to confirm that school principals are complying with the government order to have the certificates released to students with fees balances,” she said.

However, Oseno while reacting to the circular warned the Ministry of Education against infusing politics in the education sector saying the consequences of such actions will be catastrophic.

Oseno said the government is creating a bad precedence by having certificates released without fees clearance, saying  the move was developing a bad attitude to parents who might opt not to pay fees
altogether.

He said the release of certificates without fees clearance will land Principals in deep trouble with creditors and the prospects of assets being attached by people who are owned money by the institutions.

“If the government is honest enough let is release KES 14 billion from the KES 17 billion laptop project to pay for the release of the certificates instead of putting teachers in a precarious position,” he said.

Since Deputy President William Ruto issued the order to have schools release the certificates, opposition within the teaching fraternity continue to grow and only time will tell the consequences of the directive.