Pupils protest transfer of teacher, demand sacking of school head

The transfer of a deputy head teacher has led to confusion, bad blood and tension at a school in Nyaribari Chache with pupils protesting against the move.

Kiamabundu Primary School pupils in Nyaribari Chache sub-county accused the school head — Peter Gichana — for orchestrating the transfer of his deputy Grace Anari.

The agitated pupils demanded the immediate sacking of Mr Gichana as they poured on the streets waving twigs and chanting slogans against Mr Gichana.

They marched to the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) County Directorate offices in Kisii Town, demanding the head teacher’s sacking.

TSC’s Chief Staffing Officer David Muluka was forced to address the protesting pupils at the gate of the county administrative headquarters, where he asked them to list their grievances.

The pupils complained of absence of teachers since the school was opened, the payment of a lunch levy while no meals were offered and the preferential treatment of some teachers by the head teacher.

DIRECTED BY BOM CHAIR

On being questioned closely by the TSC official, one of the pupils admitted that it was the chairman of the board of management, (BOM), who sent them to the streets.

'Please go back to school. We will come there and sort out all these issues with you there,” Mr Muluka told the pupils.

The more than 200 pupils, later marched to Ms Anari’s home in an attempt to convince her to return to school.

Their attempt however proved futile as she was said to be away.

Mr Muluka later accused the school’s BOM chairman and officials of inciting students to take the law into their own hands.

“We are seeing a clear case of the school board overstepping its mandate by inciting pupils to demonstrate. The fact that the officials allowed the pupils to come to my office, shows just how insensitive they are to their welfare,” said Mr Muluka.

He said it was by God’s grace that the pupils made it to his office walking alone and unsupervised along the highway.

“They could have been hit by motor vehicles or motorbikes,” he said.

Mr Muluka denied the pupil’s claims that the four teachers had been transferred from the school, saying that the commission had only granted a transfer request by Ms Anari.

“We are only aware of the deputy’s transfer and it came about because she asked for it, he said.

He criticized what he termed the action as “the illegal tendency by BOMs in the county to send schoolchildren on witch-hunting missions to settle scores with teaching staff”.

“The BOM officials know where my office is. Why risk children’s lives to pass the message that they are dissatisfied with the transfer instead of coming here themselves?” he wondered.

County Education Board chairman Henry Onderi condemned the incident, saying that the Basic Education Act does not allow the incitement of pupils by the board.

“The Act does not have a provision for pupils to demonstrate in case the board is unhappy with the posting or transfer of staff. Such an action is not only illegal, but also in bad taste since it fosters indiscipline among students,” said Dr Onderi.

He warned that the County Education Board would disband boards found to be inciting pupils against “legally sanctioned school authorities”.

He said that the county board is investigating the matter.

It is the their incident in two weeks after students of Ikoba Secondary School in Bomachoge Borabu sub-county also demonstrated on Tuesday morning protesting the high-handedness of the school administration.

Last week, parents of Birongo SDA Primary School also closed the school to protest the posting of a new head teacher to the school after the retirement of the previous one.

The school has since been reopened, with parents and the BOM vowing to block the posting of Mr Mose Mwagi to the school following the retirement of Mr Vincent Ondimu.