Mufutu Mixed Day Secondary School in Lugari Sub County has been closed indefinitely after students went on rampage destroying property in the school and injuring police officers.
The violent students armed with stones and other crude weapons broke about 219 windowpanes in the school causing destruction worth thousands of shillings as they blamed the school management for mishandling them.
In what started as a peaceful demonstration, turned chaotic after unruly students pelted stones at anybody closer to them including police officers who had rushed to the school to calm the situation injuring two officers.
After the destruction, the rowdy students marched in the area streets waving placards and chanting anti-principal songs to the Lugari Division Assistant County Commissioner’s office at Lugari Township about five kilometers away to register their grievances.
The demonstrating students who were given audience by security team led by the Lugari Sub County Police Commander Bernard Ngungu and education officials led by the Sub County Deputy Director of Education Phyllis Shitanda presented more than ten grievances to the officials.
Lugari Sub County Deputy Director of Education Phyllis Shitanda addressing the students
They claimed the number of teachers in the school was extremely low with one teacher forced to teach one subject from form one to form four.
“We have a problem with Mathematics, Geography and Business Studies subjects where we have only one teacher for each subject who is supposed to teach from form one to form four. The worst of all is the Business teacher who is a regular absentee,” lamented students who also accused the school principal Mr. Tom Kitiabi whom they alleged came to school irregularly and his deputy Petronila Lukulu was not active.
Lugari Sub County Police Commander Bernard Ngungu addressing the students
They also accused a section of teachers in the school whom they alleged went to class while so drunk and unable to teach.
The striking students further claimed the school was operating from a ‘hand to mouth scenario’, while blaming the school management for failing to buy enough food in the school store.
Students in their list of complaints noted that meals were served late and also not enough with some students on many occasions missing the food.
They claimed that even after many of them successfully paid school fees, there are huge electricity bills which are yet to be settled with sections of classrooms and students toilets in dilapidated conditions.
Despite paying money for remedial teaching, the students complained that the teachers were not honouring the said class hours.
They also poked holes in their principal’s management style for failing to erect a school fence and providing a dependable source of water, saying he was running the school as personal property.
They also complained of arrogance and abusive language from the school workers, especially security guards, poor hygiene, teachers lateness to school among other grievances.
Mrs. Shitanda who announced the immediate closure of the school, said her office together with other relevant stakeholders have moved swiftly to investigate the matter and provide a solution. She said a return to school formula will be communicated very soon to allow the candidates prepare for their examinations.
