Uasin Gishu: Angry parents close secondary school where top KCSE student scored D+

Angry parents on Thursday barricaded the gates of Mafuta Secondary School in Moiben, Uasin Gishu County, protesting alleged persistent poor performance of the school in last year’s KCSE examinations.

The parents held demonstrations in the area, calling for the removal of the Principal, who they accuse of failing in his responsibility to the learners.

The leading student had a D+, followed by a D -, while the rest of the candidates scored an E.

“We are here as parents of Mafuta Secondary School. What you can see from the results is devastating. We have like 20 Es. The first boy has a D+. If this Principal is here to serve, why are we having these kind of results?” Posed Mike Bett, a parent at the school.

Board Chair Muhammed Abdi, on his part, stated: “0.003 ni mean grade gani hiyo? Tangu huyu mwalimu aletwe hapa, miaka saba watoto wameanguka. Yeye ni kuchukua na kuuza mali ya shule bila idhini ya board.”

The parents who forcefully ejected the Principal from the school accused him of making arbitrary decisions without involving the board of management or parents, and say he is always away from school on personal errands.

The school has performed dismally for the last seven years with no reprieve in sight, and the parents say the highest mean grade for the school in 7 years was 2.0.

Board Chair Abdi stated: “Karatasi alipewa kuwa Principal hata hajahitimu, watoto wetu ameumiza, tunataka leo hii atoke.”

“Tumekuwa tukilalamika lakini hatujafaulu. Huyu principal amekuwa mnyama, hashughuliki na watoto, ako hapo kwa shughuli zake, hana haja na watoto hadi watoto wetu waanguke hivo,” said another parent, Jeniffer Keter.

The Principal has however defended the school’s dismal performance, accusing the parents of polluting the learning environment, making it difficult for him to discharge his duties effectively.

“Mean grade ilikuwa 1.0. If you’re not supported, there’s no way you can produce...if you’re frog marched the way you’re seeing now, there’s no way,” said the Principal Chrispinus Mukenya.

The protesting parents later proceeded to Mafuta Primary School, a stone throw away, where a similar script played out.

The primary school has also been recording dismal performance in the last couple of years, and the parents have urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to intervene and safeguard the futures of their children.