State extends students PIN listing to March 31

Residents of Mombasa flock Bima Towers to get birth certificates on 20 Feb 2018.The government has extended the registration period for children in school to March 31 to allow them get birth certificates. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry took the decision after consulting stakeholders.

  • He added that staff at the ministry would continue working with schools to ensure concerns arising from the process were addressed.

  • In Kakamega, complaints of security officers demanding bribes to assist locals get the documents emerged as queues grew longer.

The government has extended the registration period for children in school to March 31 to allow them get birth certificates.

This was after it emerged that only 3.8 million learners out of 11 million had registered by Tuesday’s deadline.

Education Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang said the ministry took the decision after consulting stakeholders.

“The ministry has resolved to extend the newly developed computer programme — National Education Information Management System — data collection to accommodate learners who have yet to acquire birth certificates,” Dr Kipsang said.

WORK WITH SCHOOLS

He added that staff at the ministry would continue working with schools to ensure concerns arising from the process were addressed.

“The ministry urges stakeholders to take advantage of the extended period and ensure data on learners is captured,” he said.

On January 27, the ministry announced a three-week data collection for learners in primary and secondary schools.

“The Education Ministry has had fruitful discussions with the Ministry of Interior...on ways to fast-track issuing of birth certificates,” he said.

BRIBES DEMANDS

In Kakamega, complaints of security officers demanding bribes to assist locals get the documents emerged as queues grew longer.

Mr John Malawi, a parent, expressed disappointment with the clerks whom he accused of inexperience.

The ministry requires the certificates in order to issue learners with personal identification numbers that would be used in place of index numbers during national examinations.

In Vihiga, Ms Trufena Vugutsa, Mr Benard Kihima and Mr Hudson Maneno said they arrived at the registration centre in Mbale before 6am.

“The process is long. The notice was short yet headteachers are impatient,” Ms Vugutsa said.

PRUDENT

Mr Kihima welcomed the development but added that it would have been prudent for the government to inform parents early.

Mr Maneno from Kigama village said he arrived at the offices at 5am.

“The few clerks began working at 9am. There are more than 1,000 applicants and we don’t know what is going on inside,” he said.

In Mombasa, Kenya National Union of Teachers urged the government to send officials in schools to register learners. Knut executive Dan Aloo said parents and pupils were suffering.

“The government can’t force parents to produce birth certificates without facilitating registration at village level,” Mr Aloo said.

Mombasa registrar of births and deaths Peter Mutua said the congestion at the headquarters was due to the search for the certificates.

He said the officers were overwhelmed with work.  “We will have to work up to 8pm to ensure as many parents as possible get the certificates,” Mr Mutua said.

Ms Rukia Hussein, a parent, said she hoped the ministry would extend the deadline “and give us more time to get the certificate.

 

Report by Ouma Wanzala, Derick Luvega, Shraon Okolla and Winnie Atieno.