{"id":599502,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/599502/?format=json","text_counter":289,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"this country. There is the vacuum between policy formulation and implementation. So, we are back at it again. Yesterday, I was watching a documentary about teenagers who have turned to drug trafficking, stealing and other vices. The rate at which they are being gunned down is worrying. It was very sad to see children aged between 15 to17 years not living to celebrate their 25th birthday because they get to crime at early ages. They also handle all manner of weapons in trying to make a living. When I was a Member of Parliament for Kasarani Constituency, I took my time to find out why many of my constituents were being gunned down at that early age. It is very sad when you talk to the faces behind crime and get their individual stories. I remember one such story where a boy aged 19 years told me that he got into crime to try and get money to collect his certificate that had been withheld. One thing led to the other and he got into petty crime. He did not have an opportunity to accumulate money to be able to collect his certificate. At the same time, he had an ailing mother, father and eight siblings to take care of. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we always talk about the need to release the certificates. This is an emotive issue that should be taken seriously because as we spend millions of money to avert crime and bring up policies to eradicate poverty and create jobs, we are not implementing these policies and ensuring that the head teachers are compelled. When a Motion is passed in the Senate that they should not withhold the certificates anymore, any such teacher found withholding school certificates of any student should be taken to court for prosecution. This is a policy statement that has been made here and passed in this House. The whole idea of withholding certificates negates the spirit of education. It is painful to take a child to school and pay through your nose to see your children through and only after Form Four, they find that their daughter cannot access her certificates. What do you expect an 18 year old girl who does not have a certificate and who is from a poor background and living in un-conducive environment to do? Therefore, the act of withholding certificates sparks off a chain reaction of negative social ills that this country still has to deal with. Teachers must be compelled to know that it will be criminal to withhold certificates. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am shocked that even as we talk about this, some schools have experienced this problem more than others. I encourage head teachers of such schools to emulate their counterparts. For example, I have a daughter who is in Form Two. In that school, we pay very high school fees during the first term. School fees is lighter in the second term and almost negligible in third term. Why would school head teachers not be innovative to ensure that fees is paid since they fully know well that once you admit a student in Form One, they will exit after four years? They should stagger payment of fees to make sure that what is paid in Form Four is very minimal. They should put parents through a clearance system in first and second terms. By the time students sit for their examinations, it would be just minimal or no school fees at all. That means that by the time students sit for their examinations, one will not have any reason to withhold a certificate. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."}