ZOMBO : LWALA PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER FIRE FOR DENYING PROMOTIONAL EXAMS TO HUNDREDS OF PUPILS

Primary one Pupils of Lwala primary school, who were denied promotional exams. All Photos by Mike Rwothomio

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

Administrators of Lwala Primary School in Warr town council, Zombo district have come under criticism over reportedly denying promotional examinations to 159 primary one learners.

Radio Pacis understands that, the pupils were exempted from sitting for their final examinations, upon failing to complete their examinations fees. It’s not clear how much the school had charged on each learner.

The report shot its way to the public domain, following an impromptu inspection visit to the school, by councilors on the district’s Committee of Social services last week.

According to the committee report, out of the total 226 primary one pupils, 159 were denied promotional exams on grounds that they never paid examinations fees.

The committee has warned that, the school authorities shall not be left to slip through the nets, unless they administer examinations to the learners.

Sadiki Onencan, the committee Chairperson, expressed disappointment over the matter, revealing that only 67 pupils sat the promotional exams, which is so disappointing and detrimental to their future.

He said “the committee has now ordered the school authorities to administer examinations afresh to the affected learners”

Sadiki Onencan, the chairperson social services committee
Zombo district.

The committee attributed the incident to failure of compromise between parents and learners.

Parents react

A parent only identified as Agenonga, blamed school Authorities for creating different fees for parents, most of whom are poor.

“The fees have become too many, we have exams fee, mock fees, development fees, PTA fees amongst others, sometimes this is making things hard for us parents”  Agenonga stated.

Agness Acikani, another parent said” sometimes they come up with additional fees abruptly, and you know many of us parents are very poor, so it becomes hard for some of us to pay all the fees required ”

Philip Kwonga, one of the Parents of the affected pupils reasoned that “I think they would have allowed our children to sit and we clear them when getting results for our children.”

Efforts to get comment from the school administration proved futile by press time.

Nicolas Odeba, the Zombo District Education Officer had earlier warned school Authorities saying the practice goes against policy regulations and Education Act.

He added that government pays capitation grant for all learners in government aided schools, to amongst others aid in administering assessment for learners most of whom are from poor background.

Meanwhile Bruno Manano, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, threatened arrest of school authorities found orchestrating the act.

However, some school heads remain adamant to refrain, opining that the Capitation grant is not sufficient to facilitate all the school activities.

The incident is coming at a time when government is out rightly against the school administrator’s act of blocking learners from sitting exams due to unpaid school fees.

Many stakeholders instead advocate for withholding of results until dues are settled.

Written by admin