Nakuru Boys high school will lose Sh22 million in school fees arrears if the directive to release KCSE certificates will be effected without plans to clear the balance.
Speaking to journalists, Paul Kibet, the school’s principal revealed that since 2001, the school has accumulated arrears from school fees, examination fees and books lost by students.
“The arrears stand at Sh21,826,953 million, excluding last year’s arrears and if it will not be cleared, then the school’s operations would be affected,” Kibet said.
He added that the school has not been willingly confiscating students’ certificates but the need to reclaim the money owed in terms of fees arrears necessitated the move.
The principal added: “It has been and remains difficult for us (principals) to hold back the certificates that open up excellence for students. But the government has the obligation to save the situation by offsetting the arrears and also set long-term solutions to avert the same scenario.”
But according to Elburgon secondary principal Ben Mungai, the directive may not have far reaching effects but an amicable solution should be reached.
“The issues have been handled with insensitivity and facts misplaced. Best performing schools may not have much trouble because parents pay their school fees in order to collect the certificates for their students. The most affected are rural and underperforming schools,” Mungai said.
He defended principals who have been condemned and accused of willingly confiscating students’ certificates, saying they should be applauded for allowing students to sit for the exam with fee arrears still outstanding.