By I, KNA
Mbale high school parents, Vihiga county, have staged a peaceful protest demanding for urgent reforms at the school’s administration, following its recent indefinite closure.
The aggrieved parents, joined by the school alumni, marched through the streets of Mbale town Thursday to express frustration, over what they termed as gross mismanagement, repeated unrest at the facility and their exclusion from key decision-making processes affecting their children’s education.
This marks the second major public outcry in under three months, following violent students’ unrest in May this year, that culminated in the burning of dormitories and a temporary closure of the same institution.
“We are tired of being sidelined. The school makes key decisions without consulting the relevant stakeholders, using our children as scapegoats, and when riots occur, they expect us to pay for the damages,” said Makori Jarred, a parent and elected member of the Parents Association.
According to Makori, parents were initially required to pay Sh12,500 each to cater for damages caused during the first incident.
However, they were later asked to contribute an additional Sh30,000, raising queries over how the previous funds were utilized.
“We now demand a full financial disclosure and a clear work plan for how our children will recover the lost class time,” he added.
The parents also criticized the school’s Board of Management (BoM) for allegedly operating unilaterally and failing to convene their Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was due during the first term.
They are now calling for the immediate dissolution of the board, citing poor leadership, lack of accountability, and exclusion of key stakeholders.
“We have never been invited for any board meeting. All major decisions are made behind closed doors. As parents, we need to know how our money is being used before the school reopens,” said Patrick Ndenga, a parent and alumnus of the school.
Security lapses within the institution also came under sharp criticism, with parents alleging negligence and possible collusion by the concerned personnel.
“Just how do students manage to sneak out, purchase petrol, drugs, and other items without any detection? This points to an internal security lapse,” said Milton Kesenwa, another concerned parent.
The protest comes barely days after the school was closed down yet again, following a fresh round of unrest, during which students reportedly vandalized the newly renovated facilities including a computer lab.
Parents are now demanding that the school second term fees, should either be refunded, or rolled over to cover third term.
They are also seeking assurances on academic recovery plans, before the school is reopened.
Meanwhile, with the institution’s reputation hanging in the balance, parents are now calling on the Ministry of Education and the county administration to step in and restore order at one of the region’s best schools.