A legislature in Mai Mahiu has threatened to take punitive measures against school heads who force under-performing students to repeat classes as it is against the law.
According to Mai Mahiu Ward MCA, Stephen Ng'ethe, the issue is making some students opt to drop out of school which in turn is negatively affecting academic standards in the area.
Speaking at Mai Mahiu Secondary School on Wednesday, Ng'ethe revealed that he had been receiving several complaints concerning the issue and would like the culprits stop it immediately.
"Repeating a class should be voluntary, forcing a student makes the situation worse, especially in situations especially if a student is old," he said.
He attributed the growing number of school dropouts in the area to such practices arguing that parents had to work with teachers in promoting education by ensuring their children are in school when they are expected to be there.
"It is sad that our youths are being forced out of school by individuals who are supposed to keep them there, who will we blame when they start engaging in crime and drug abuse?" he asked.
Ng'ethe further requested needy parents to liaise with his office to have their children legible for CDF bursaries so as not to be denied the chance to go to school.