School fees defaulters to be listed on CRB - Education CS George Magoha suggests

Education CS George Magoha has proposed the listing of school fees defaulters on the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

Prof. Magoha proposes that the students found to have arrears to be denied their certificates until their parents or they themselves receive a clearance certificate from CRB.

The CS noted that many schools had opted to withhold the certificates without determining whether the defaulter can repay and is just refusing to do so.

School fees defaulters to be listed on CRB - Education CS George Magoha suggests Pulse Live Kenya

"It is not true all certificates being held are for those students who cannot pay their school fees; there is a sizeable number who can afford to pay but have refused…do I have the permission to take them to CRB?

"If you are a teacher and you have never gone back to pay your fees arrears, then you should be reported to the CRB and get blacklisted.

"Many suppliers are not paid because schools are broke due to the many arrears. Schools need the balances yet students have left. This must be addressed even if it means waiving the arrears," Prof. Magoha posed as he appeared before the Education Committee.

MPs question Prof. Magoha on withheld certificates

The MPs summoned the CS to explain why a government policy directing all certificates to be released without discrimination had not been implemented.

"Poor people can be identified because schools know them and have their certificates released," he explained.

The MPs insisted that form-four leavers were losing out on career opportunities due to the hitch with their certificates and recommended legal action against the defaulters.