Maranda students to undergo drug tests before being re-admitted.
Students at Maranda High School will be subjected to a drug and substance test before being readmitted on Tuesday of next week.
In addition, each student will be required to pay Sh5,125 towards the reconstruction of the burned-down dormitory. Before re-admission, all fees, including the charge for reconstruction, must be paid.
According to a message sent to parents a week ago by the school’s Chief Principal Edwin Namachanja, all students will be subjected to drug and substance tests while at home.
“This must be done at a public health facility or NACADA. The certificates of the same are to be presented on the re-opening day. Subsequently, there shall be random testing conducted by the school.”
Some parents have paid Sh1,500 to have their children tested. They will be given certificates.
However, many parents reported that they were unable to access the appropriate laboratories in order to have their sons tested as ordered by the school.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced in January 2021 that the government would begin administering drug tests to students in order to eradicate abuse in schools.
Magoha stated that his ministry will collaborate with the health ministry to visit schools at random and collect blood samples from students for testing.
According to the CS, students whose test results show traces of drugs will face a case.
“This is one of the strategies the ministry and security officials have come up with to control increased cases of arson attacks and indiscipline in schools,” the CS had overserved.
Nelson Sifuna, Siaya County Education Director, stated yesterday that the test was designed to help parents get to know their children. “We are assisting parents, and they should assist us in meeting our goal.”
Previously, Sifuna claimed that the students suspected of torching the second hostel were high on drugs.
“They had smoked bhang. They said that they got motivated to set the building ablaze after taking the drug.”
However, legal experts argue that this could be illegal and an infringement on the children’s rights because there was no reason to subject all students to drug and substance tests.
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Between November 22 and November 25, each of the 2,469 students at Maranda School paid Sh2,500 to cover the cost of rebuilding the first burnt-down dormitory.
Each student had also returned to school with a parent or guardian. Following a board meeting on November 11, the decision was made.
A stakeholders’ meeting at the institution a week ago resolved to deploy a permanent chaplain at the institution.
Maranda students to undergo drug tests before being re-admitted
