Maranda sends students home after standoff with parents

Form Four students at Maranda High School have been sent home indefinitely following a confrontation with the administration over extra charges.

Parents who had disagreed with the school over fines for recent destruction of property attempted to access the administration building but were stopped by guards.

Every parent is required to pay Sh10,000 for the construction of a dining hall, Sh8,000 for the Board of Management (BoM) teachers and Sh2,500 as a fine for a dormitory that was destroyed recently.

One of the parents said he and his colleagues were angered when the school demanded the money before the students were readmitted.

They said they were told the children would not sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination if they did not pay the amount demanded.

“Imagine going back with my son when I have cleared school fees. The administration asked for Sh2,500 as a fine for the burnt dormitory. Why are we then being compelled to pay for a harambee which we were told is voluntary?” he asked.

Another parent said there was an agreement between the school and parents to pay Sh2,000 for the construction of the dining hall last month.

Some said the school failed to give clear information to guardians and parents before reopening after the dormitory blaze.

“The drama would have been avoided if there was proper planning on the side of the Maranda School administration on how the boys would be received,” the parent said.

The school managers did not respond to the concerns raised by parents.

A teacher told Nation.Africa that whatever was happening was being fuelled by anxiety and fear of examinations.

There are reports of some boys being caught attempting to burn a makeshift dormitory on Tuesday evening.

If true, it means the incident happened just days after students resumed learning after the school was closed on November 8.