Imo assembly moves to address ‘delayed’ release of varsity certificates, transcripts

The Imo house of assembly has asked higher institutions in the state to stop subjecting their graduating students to “unwarranted delays” when they apply to collect statements of results, transcripts, and certificates.

The house of assembly deliberated on the matter during the plenary session on Thursday.

The call followed a motion moved by Henry Agbasonu, the member representing the Ezinihitte-Mbaise state constituency.

The lawmaker, who is the chairman of the  committee on education, said Imo currently has over 10 tertiary institutions.

He said graduating students are made to pass through a rigorous and difficult procedure of clearing their certificates.

The lawmaker said some graduates wait for up to two years to clear their results, certificates, and transcripts.

“Graduating students or graduates in Imo tertiary institutions oftentimes have the need either for employment purposes, National Youth Service Corps, or to further academic demands,” he said.

“It will warrant them obtaining their results, certificates and transcripts. Unfortunately, these students are subjected to undue and unwarranted delays in processing and releasing their statements of result, certificates and transcripts.

“This is both annoying and a direct way of restraining the said students from either furthering their education or securing admissions abroad and other purposes.

“The same scenario is playing out in the secondary schools where some students who graduated about many years ago are yet to receive their statements of result.

“These students would be made to pay hugely by the school management as a lobbying fee to fast-track the release. Most times, their money will be taken without having the desired results.”

Agbasonu said the ministry of education in the state should come up with a policy to ensure the prompt release of results and eradicate the undue delay in processing the documents.