By Mwanahabari Reporter
Cheplaskei boys high school in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County has been closed and students sent on an early half term break following students’ unrest.
Over 100 students sneaked out of their dormitories as early as 3 am and jumped over the school fence for their freedom but they did not destroy property.
The students cited the need for an early half term as the reason for their breaking out of the public school.
A junior student said that they were woken up by their colleagues and told to carry their bags and go home.
The school principal George Oloo who is barely a week old since he was transferred to the institution said that they established that some students had left the school premises in the morning while others were restrained by the security officers.
Half term break
“We have established that the students were leaving school without permission, because they wanted an early half term. According to the school calendar, the students were supposed to break for half term on Thursday,” said Oloo.
The students are now expected to resume school on Tuesday next week.
When reached for comment, the sub county director of education Alice Sitienei said that they were informed of the incident in the morning and decided to allow all the learners to go home.
She said that the state at the school is now peaceful and no property was damaged.
“We held an urgent meeting with the executive board and we decided to let the students go home to restrain them and avoid further unrest. They are set to resume school on Tuesday,” said Sitienei.
Blamed school management
Barely a week ago, students from Ngeria Girls High school in Kapsaret sub county stormed out of the institution to protest a decision by the school administration to isolate 33 students suspected to have been exposed to Covid-19 within the school compound.
The students who walked for nine kilometers to a nearby shopping centre blocked the busy Eldoret-Nakuru highway while airing their grievances.
Some students interviewed by Mwanahabari.co.ke blamed school management arguing that
keeping the sick students within the compound generating fear among the students.
However, the school principal Susan Sawe, said the decision to isolate students was reached at after the school realized some students.
Informed the teachers
Showed symptoms related to the deadly Covid-19. She said some students had started exhibiting the symptoms. When form one students reported two weeks ago.
“I received information that the students were protesting outside the School. I informed the teachers but when we caught up with them, they refuse to listen to us, arguing we took the wrong directive of Isolating their colleagues within the school,” said Sawe.
She added: “The decision to accommodate the learners within the compound was agreed by the board of management. They instructed us to take care of the students before the tests were administered.”
Kapseret sub-county director of education Vincent Kipruto urged the students to avoid taking part in such incident that would affect their education.
After long discussion with ministry of education and teachers, the students later agreed to go back to school.