Irate Parents Eject Teachers Over Poor Results

By The COAST Reporter

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Irate parents stormed Mkombe Primary School in Kilifi County where they paralysed learning before ejecting teachers and students.

They cited dismal performance on national exams, poor management and blamed the school misappropriation of public funds.

The angry parents vowed they would not relent until their grievances were heard and addressed before ‘normal’ learning activities could resume.

Prior to this invasion, a number of parents had withdrawn their children from the school to other neighbouring ones.

Karisa Dhadu, a parent, expressed fears the school might collapse if the ongoing withdrawal of pupils was not checked to stop the haemorrhage.

“This school might soon be closed if the Ministry of Education does not intervene to resolve the parent-teacher conflict.”

Started in 1987, Mkombe Primary School, has currently total of 120 pupils against parents’ claims it had over 400 learners 12 years ago.

It has seven Teachers Service Commission’s teachers while another two are hired by the board of management.

According to Dhadu three quarters of the pupils who sat Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) last year managed a paltry 150 marks.

“We are worried because a large number of students have been scoring poor grades, this has led our community not having professionals. Most learners from the school ended up becoming bodaboda riders, quarry cutters, fishermen and housewives.”

Under the current teaching staff, Dhadu claimed the school has never posted any celebrated KCPE results since the headteacher Emmanuel Kombe got transferred in 2011.

The parent condemned the teachers who have the habits of reporting late to school and leaving early in the evening without engaging pupils to any extracurricular activities.

“We regret that as we continue as stakeholders pulling together and channeling resources to improve the structures in the school, the teachers keep on letting us down.”

Another parent, Julius Mwambegu, wants the County education authorities to disband the school committee board with immediate effect to save it from eminent collapse.

“The school’s performance has dropped terribly and parents are not ready to allow the school committee continue managing the school.”

Unverified reports claim that a school water tank has been sold by unknown members of the board and there was wanton cutting down trees within its compound.

Florence Kahunda, another parent, blamed the board for stopping a health facility project from being built on the school’s compound.

This has forced the school and its immediate surroundings almost 10 kilometres away.

“We thought the idea of building a health facility here will be a reprieve to the community who trek long distance in search of medication but we are shocked the school committee has gang up against it. The school has nine acres and we only requested a half an acre for the project but the school board went ahead and refuse it. We are tired with this committee and we are asking the government to take action and disband the board so as to restore calmness in the school.”

Coast Media Group’s efforts to get comments from the acting head teacher Everlyn Kadzo were unsuccessful after she failed to respond to phone calls.