Drama As Parents and MP Salasya Forcefully Oust Isongo Secondary School Principal
Just a week after irate parents at Mafuta Secondary School in Uasin Gishu county took matters into their own hands to remove the school head due to unsatisfactory KCSE results, a similar disconcerting scenario unfolded in Kakamega county.
In a collective display, parents from St Gabriel Isongo Secondary, arriving both on foot and motorbikes, embarked on a mission to oust the principal. Their grievance centered around the perceived failure of the principal to maintain the school’s academic standards.
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Disregarding all security measures, the group directly confronted the principal in his office, forcibly escorting him off the school premises, subjecting him to physical confrontation in the process.
The disgruntled parents and students actively participated in the expulsion, exulting as they ousted the man they deemed responsible for their academic setbacks. In a bid to ensure his safety, the beleaguered principal sought refuge with a support body that transported him away.
Joy Ingutia, a concerned parent, lamented, “When this teacher came here, the mean score was 5, now it has dropped to 2. This school is substantial, and he is letting it down. Changing board teachers every month.”
Area MP Peter Salasya declared, “We demand commitment from the principals; that’s why we’ve convened this meeting. No, you have to leave. Let me express some sympathy – you need to be transferred.”
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Present at the scene, Salasya placed blame squarely on the principal, accusing him of failing both the students and the community.
Seemingly endorsing the forceful removal of the principal, Salasya cautioned that he would not tolerate underperforming school heads in his constituency.
He emphasized, “If you are a principal, students come to school, parents have fulfilled their part, and I have paid the bursary. If you haven’t delivered, it means you can’t motivate your teachers to perform.”
The intrusion of parents into schools, protesting alleged poor performance in national examinations, drew criticism from the Ministry of Education.
In a statement, the Ministry expressed concern about this unsettling trend, asserting that the blame for poor exam results should not be solely placed on teachers, particularly the Head of Institution.
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The statement emphasized that learner achievement is a reflection of the collective effort of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and candidates themselves.
CS Ezekiel Machogu cautioned that the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission have established a robust mechanism for evaluating teacher performance, ensuring non-performing staff are addressed according to existing laws and policies.
Drama As Parents and MP Salasya Forcefully Oust Isongo Secondary School Principal