- Classes in Mabwaita and Sosit primary schools were suspended after parents and students from Mabwaita took to the streets to protest the transfer of their head teacher
- The protestors claim that within six months, the headmaster had greatly improved the school in Mabwaita, increasing the number of students and academic results.
- The community, including the school board, is asking the Ministry of Education to cancel the transfer as the situation worsens to the extent that the police are involved
Kericho – Academic activities in Mabwaita and Sosit primary schools in Bureti constituency, Kericho county stopped after parents and students from Mabwaita organized protest of two kilometers to Sosit primary school.
Source: UGC
Why were students and parents arguing about the headmaster?
The protestors wanted the return of their head teacher Mr. Cheruiyot, who was recently transferred to Sosit without prior consultation.
The parents accused the education officials of not considering the progress achieved under the head teacher who had been in Mabwaita for only six months. They praised him for reviving the troubled institution, increasing student enrollment from fifty to over three hundred, and improving academic and disciplinary standards.
Richard Langat, a resident of Mabwaita was surprised when he woke up to find students taking part in protests instead of studying at school.
“When I arrived at the school, I found students and parents coming out in protest. When they were interviewed, they said their head teacher has been transferred,” he said.
The school's Board of Management (BoM) supported the parents' complaints, revealing that they had already written to the Ministry of Education last week, asking them to reconsider the transfer.
“Our headmaster was only one year into his term, but he had already turned the school around,” said Shadrack Korir, a BoM member. “The school was about to collapse when he came, but now it is thriving,” he added. .
Great job head teacher
Betty Korir, a parent, lamented the failure of their children if the transfer of the principal is approved.
“Our children could not read or write before he arrived. Now they can write. Some of them had dropped out of school because of drugs, but the headmaster visited the house and brought them back to school. What? do they want these kids to go back to drinking alcohol and drugs?” he asked.
The situation worsened as the protesters vowed to disrupt classes at Sosit Primary School until their demands were met. Police officers were called to manage the situation.
“We came here for education issues, but instead of addressing us, they sent security officers. Instead of bringing us officers from the Ministry of Education, they brought police who are from the Ministry of Interior,” Korir said in frustration.
Bureti OCPD Benedict Chirchir urged parents to follow proper channels when airing their concerns.
“I advise parents to avoid this type of protest in the near future. Relocation is a government issue. If there are complaints, they should go to the Ministry of Education instead of protesting,” he said.
The demonstration, which lasted for more than three hours, ended with the parents and the students negotiating with police officers before returning home.
However, they remain of the position that the Ministry of Education should cancel the transfer and reinstate their head teacher.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
