By Salim Mutuma
A Girls’ Boarding Secondary School in Meru has shocked Kenyans for sending home over 10 KCSE candidates three weeks to exam time.
While the government has severally warned school heads against sending students home but allow parents make partial payments, Akithii Girls’ School located in Tigania West continues to subject the candidates to undeserved torture.
Of the 10 sent home late last month, close to five who returned days later after paying part of the money were not allowed back to class despite being accompanied by their parents.
The parents had to bear the embarrassment after the school principal Ms Hellen Nyaga forced them out of the school compound after rejecting their pleas to clear the arrears at a later date.
The students were not allowed to carry books home dimming their hopes of revising while at home as their parents’ source for the remaining money.
Education CS George Magoha in January warned school heads against sending learners home over fees saying the government was keen to ensure they all remain in school.
The Press Point is reliably informed that the parents have severally visited the school to beseech the principal to no fruition.
About six parents have already paid at least a third of the arrears but their children continue to suffer at home as their colleagues in school continue with learning ahead of the exams.
“The principal insists that she will not allow students with fee arrears of more than Sh5, 000 which worries me that my daughter might not sit for the exams. We appeal to the government to intervene else our children’s dream will be cut short,” one of the distraught parents told the Press Point.
The parents are a worried lot as most of them, who are farmers say they might not be able to clear the balance before exams commence on March 26.
“We are wondering why the school is not adhering to the government directive and listening to our cries to have our girls back in class while we continue paying in bits,” another parent added. “We appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta to come to our aid”
The school principal could not be reached for comment as her phone was switched off while Meru County Director of Education Milton Nzioka did not answer our calls.
