Parents at Kianjogu Primary School in Laikipia County have demanded the removal of the headteacher citing poor performance and safety risks.
The parents are decrying the lack of involvement by the Ministry of Education despite their protests which have gone on for three weeks.
Some of the parents have taken matters into their own hands, withdrawing their children from the school seeking other alternatives.
Zelipha Wakini, a parent at the school, accused the headteacher of neglecting her duties and focusing on her own personal affairs rather than doing her job.
“She has been focusing on her farming activities around the school area and has been absent from the school. This behavior has spread to the other teachers who are now in a great state of laxity.”
The parents have also accused the embattled headteacher of being rude and verbally abusive during school meetings. They are calling for the education ministry to quickly intervene and act accordingly.
“When we converge for meetings, the headteacher constantly ignores the parents’ suggestions. She is the main problem and always leads on her accord.”
Aside from poor performance, the parents have also lamented about the poor management of the school citing the poor state of classrooms and the lack of parents’ involvement in the school’s affairs.
This was echoed by another parent, Robert Gitau. “The classes are in a state of disarray. There are big cracks on the walls and the headteacher is not alive to this. We fear there might be a big tragedy in the future.”
The parents have called for the headteacher’s replacement and establishment of a new management committee to oversee the restructuring of the school.
“Currently, the school has no management committee and we believe this is a huge factor behind the school’s declining performance. We are demanding the establishment of a management committee that will aid in reversing this.” one of the parents said.
The parents have vowed to continue clamoring for the headteacher’s ouster and hope that change will come to the school sooner rather than later.
