In a landmark shift toward rights-based educational management, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially deconstructed the long-standing tradition of using academic certificates as financial collateral. As of February 28, 2026, the directive issued by Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei serves as a final warning to institutional heads: the era of the “administrative ransom” is over.
By prioritizing the Constitutional Right to Education over the recovery of school fee arrears, the TSC is fundamentally redefining the relationship between schools and their alumni.
The TSC’s intervention is anchored in Article 53 of the Constitution, which mandates that a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.In the eyes of the Commission, withholding a KCPE or KCSE certificate is not a legitimate accounting practice; it is a violation of a fundamental human right.
“Academic certificates belong to the learners,” Mitei emphasized in the circular, reinforcing that these documents are the legal property of the individual who sat the examination, not the school that hosted them.
For decades, schools have argued that without the “leverage” of certificates, they have no way to recover millions in unpaid fees. However, the TSC’s 2026 policy roadmap suggests a more civilized alternative. The Commission maintains that while schools have a right to pursue debts through Civil Courts or the Small Claims Court, they cannot do so by sabotaging a student’s career.
By decoupling financial disputes from academic credentials, the TSC is ensuring that a parent’s inability to pay does not result in a “generational poverty trap” for the child.
To prevent schools from creating new hurdles, the TSC has mandated a “Zero-Condition” release policy. This means school heads cannot demand “clearance forms,” “alumni fees,” or “administrative processing charges” before handing over the certificates.
The directive is absolute: once a certificate is in the school’s custody, it must be available for collection by the student or their authorized guardian. This “clean break” approach is designed to eliminate the corruption and “negotiation” that often occurred behind closed doors in the Principal’s office.
The TSC’s Sh700 million Zonal Office initiative will play a crucial role in monitoring this directive at the grassroots level. Sub-county directors are now required to maintain a “Certificate Complaint Log,” where students can report recalcitrant school heads.
As the country moves toward the full implementation of the Senior School transition, the TSC is determined to ensure that the “paperwork” of the past does not block the “specialization” of the future. For the Kenyan youth, this directive represents a hard-won victory for dignity and professional freedom.
TAGS
TSC certificate release 2026, Article 53 Constitution Kenya education, school fee recovery legal alternatives, Evaleen Mitei TSC directive, KCSE certificates and school debt, TSC Zonal Office monitoring.
