Students of St Joseph’ Bisabo Girls secondary school early Thursday matched to the Masaba North sub-county education officer’s office demanding for immediate transfer of their school principal, Mr Edward Onchiri, over allegations of increment in school fees.
The students said they were shocked to find that fees went up to Sh20, 000 this year up from the Sh13, 000 they had been paying.
They also raised concerns over the dilapidated state of the school infrastructure and the learning conditions in the school.
They alleged that the school principal spearheaded the transfer of their English teacher to another school and that TSC had not sent a replacement.
The students told the press that this year’s academic calendar was likely to be disrupted given the fact that teachers employed by the Board of Management (BOM) had not received their salaries since last year in October 2015 and that they were threatening to down their tools, a matter they demanded to be addressed immediately.
However the sub-county director of education Erick Nyakwama who managed to convince the irate students to go back to class said that all day schools were supposed to charge Sh9, 374 and that anything above that was an illegality.
“I will keenly look into the matter and ensure that there is sanity in that school and other schools that are surrounding the sub-county,” he added.
He warned school heads who failed to adhere to the directive by the ministry of education regarding the school fees supposed to be paid would be prosecuted.
When reached for comment, the embattled principal told the press that there were forces behind the students that wanted him transferred since he did not come for the community.
“The school fees was increased across all schools and for me I did what I was ordered to do, though I know there are people inciting the students to match against me,” added Edward Onchiri.