Parents Challenge Strike Fees
The parents have taken action by filing a petition regarding what they describe as unjust fees imposed on them for every incident of unrest that has occurred at the school recently.
They are questioning the reasoning behind the school’s decision to charge Ksh49,000 per student, arguing that this amount is excessive given the actual damage caused by the students.
The frustrated parents believe that some of the expenses, like the rebuilding of the burnt dormitory, should be covered by the government through the annual capitation funds.
The parents, with the help of their lawyers, have accused the school principal and several teachers of supposedly encouraging the frequent strikes for their own financial benefit.
“The first strike that happened, parents paid without questioning. Another strike, the parents paid without questioning. This is the third strike; the parents think that the principal and the school management are instigating these strikes,” said lawyer Danstan Omari.
The parents expressed their worries about the school’s ongoing practice of imposing fines whenever there’s unrest, rather than tackling the root problems that lead to these issues.
“This means that the Ksh69 million fine that has been demanded by this school has not been arrived at through a transparent process. This is a criminal enterprise by the management, added lawyer Shadrack Wambui.
In addition, the parents are insisting on a complete list of the properties that were damaged during the protests, along with a thorough audit of the funds raised after similar incidents in the past.
This demand comes just three weeks after the school was shut down indefinitely due to students going on a rampage, causing millions in damages and even setting a dormitory on fire.
The chaos erupted on September 21, reportedly sparked by students protesting against having to sit for joint exams with nearby schools.
Further reports indicated that the unrest was also fueled by the school administration’s choice to deny students the chance to watch a Premier League match.
In the meantime, the school administration has released a reopening plan, with students expected to return in phases, starting with the first group on October 9.
Parents Challenge Strike Fees
