Principal denies social media claims students took over school

Darajani Secondary School Principal Stephen Mwania has dismissed claims spreading on social media that the students took over the school summoning teachers to an assembly. However, the principal revealed students were sent home on July 25, 2016 following discovery of notes saying students were not ready to sit exams. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Besides the students' unwillingness to sit examinations, the school principal said the school did not have indiscipline issues.

A school in Kibwezi East Constituency that has been the subject of online reports that its students staged a "coup" against teachers on Thursday has dismissed the claims.

A post announcing that Darajani Secondary School students had summoned their teachers to an assembly to inform them that they were dismissing themselves for the August holiday was shared on social media platforms on Thursday night.

"Then they have (sic) closed the school officially and asked a teacher to move a vote of thanks to them for being good students," read part of the post shared on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.

However, the Principal Stephen Mwania told the Nation on Friday that the administration sent the students home on Monday after they found notes apparently written by students saying they were not ready to sit examinations.

"Therefore, the information on social media to the effect that the students took over the school is not true and cannot be true and is propelled by propagandists with ulterior motives," said Mr Mwania.

One of the notes that the Nation saw reads: "In peaceful way, no exams."

Besides the students' unwillingness to sit examinations, Mr Mwania said the school did not have indiscipline issues.

His sentiments were echoed by Paul Kasesi, the chairman of the parents association.

"As parents at Darajani Secondary School, we are appalled by the false reports going round social media that seem to be designed to incite students to [rise] up against teachers," said Mr Kasesi.