Learning at Kwa Mutisya Comprehensive Primary School in Kyuso district of Kitui County grounded to a halt on Monday after parents blocked both teachers and pupils from accessing the school.
Parents at the school in Mwingi North sub county decided to paralyse learning by pulling their children out of the school demanding the removal of the headteacher Mr Johanna Toto for allegedly running the facility as a one man show.
They were also protesting against the Kyuso district education office for failing to act on their grievances when they visited the office two weeks ago and demanded the transfer of the headteacher.
At dawn on Monday, a group of about 15 parents kept vigil at the school gate and later used thorny tree branches and twigs to barricade the entrance. They effectively restrained access by teachers and learners.
“We turned away any pupils and teachers who showed up at the school gate on Monday morning. We will keep vigil and ensure no learning takes place until the headteacher is removed,” said the chairman of the parents and teachers association, Mukanda Mutisya.
He said parents at the school were fed up with the head teacher who had run down the school since he took over three years ago. He said he ran the school as a one man show excluding parents and the board of management.
Mutisya further said the school head did not account for use of funds sent to the school for capitation or collected from parents despite his alleged obsession with sending pupils home for some dubious fees.
“We are unhappy with the headteacher. He has caused many parents to withdraw their children from our school. When he took over three years ago, the school had an enrolment of over 90 pupils. As of now, we have less than 30 pupils,” lamented Mutisya.
He said since the parents could no longer bear the offending ways of the head teacher they wanted the education authorities to remove him before he caused the school's permanent collapse.
“We are furious that despite filing our complaint with the Kyuso district education office, no action has been taken on our demands as the headteacher was still running our school,” said Mutisya.
The Kyuso sub county education officer ,Stephen Mulandi, told the media that the grievances of Kwa Mutisya school parents had been brought to his attention and he was dealing with the case.
He did not however disclose what action his office was likely to take and how soon.
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