By Boniface Gikandi
Kangema High School in Murang’a County has been closed indefinitely after students went on rampage and attempted to burn a dormitory on Sunday night protesting stringent rules.
Allegedly, the students want to be allowed a disco entertainment every weekend. They also want their night study time rescheduled so that they can be allowed to watch the 9 pm news.
The school administration took the swift action and ordered all the students to head home after they turned rowdy and threatened to raze down the dormitory.
The school administration ordered the over 500 students to vacate the school compound on Sunday at around 9 am on advice from Kangema DC Mr Fred Muli when it emerged that the boys had already burnt four beds and mattresses as they tried to set on fire the entire dormitory.
The DC said District Education Board resolved to have the school closed to avert further destruction of property by the irate students.
The DC said the school’s board of governors would meet to solve the problem and announce possible re-opening dates of the institution.
Speaking to The Standard, the administrator said on Thursday night the students had plotted to cause chaos and had even started pelting
buildings with stones breaking windowpanes before police intervened to save the situation.
Muli said the students also want the school administration to relax its rules on school uniform, and especially to be given a wide range
of shoes that they can use as part of their uniform.
The DC termed the demands by the students as unrealistic, saying the school must operate within its set rules and regulations.
"There is no learning institution where students are allowed disco entertainment every other day and the boys must realize that they have to study under specific rules and regulations," said Muli.
Kangema High School is the first secondary school in Murang’a county to witness student unrest this term.
