Homa Bay student kills himself for being forced to repeat class

A student in Homa Bay has committed suicide for allegedly being forced to repeat Form Three over poor performance.

Clifford Odhiambo, a student of Luora Mixed Secondary School in Rangwe sub-county took his life when his teachers allegedly denied him entry into Form Four.

Odhiambo consumed poison at his home in Kagan village to protest against his teachers’ Friday decision. He died while undergoing treatment at the county’s referral hospital.

In a suicide note left behind and obtained by county’s Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Director Diosiana Ahindukha, Odhiambo wrote that his decision was because two of his teachers had forced him to repeat Form Three.

Ms Ahindukha said the school head teacher had allowed the student admission into Form Four but the two teachers declined to let him into the class.

She said one of the accused teachers went as far as slapping the boy before chasing him out of the classroom.

“I don’t know who is heading that school if teachers can overturn an important directive given by a head teacher, leading to the death of a student,” said Ahindukha.

She directed the head teacher and the affected teachers to record a statement with the police to pave way for investigations.

“We are not going to entertain this kind of mischief. The teachers will suffer stern measures upon completion of investigations,” the director added.

County Education Network team led by the coordinator, Julius Omuga and Ben Cardison, called for the sacking of the head teacher and the two teachers.

“We want the teachers sacked for going against the rules governing basic education, which bar repeating a class,” Mr Omuga said.

County Police Commander John Omusanga said following the death, the students went on the rampage, causing destruction of property.

“His colleagues smashed classroom window panes, hurled stones at some of their teachers but none was injured in the ensuing fracas,” Mr Omusanga said.