SAMBURU: A school that was recently upgraded to national status has been accused of refusing to admit a Form One student because she has cancer.
Kisima Girls High School allegedly turned 14-year-old Jamila Ali Juma away when they learnt she'd had an operation for brain cancer. Jamila was admitted to the school after scoring 306 marks in her KCPE exams.
Her mother Ibado Ismail said after going through the normal procedure of admissions yesterday, she was summoned to the headmistress’ office where she was told the school could not admit her daughter because of her condition.
Ms Ismail said a doctor at Maralal Hospital had indicated in Jamila’s admission letter that she had had a brain operation and that she also had a kidney problem that needed special attention.
“This is unjust and very painful for me and my daughter that she has been denied an opportunity to study here on grounds we have no control over,” Ismail said.
DETAILED LETTER
Flora Aloyo, the headteacher, however, told The Standard that the school did not reject Jamila but only needed a handwritten letter from the mother indicating how she should be treated.
“We need the mother to give us a letter that we can file so that whoever handles the student will know about her condition,” she said.
Ms Aloyo said the letter would provide details of the doctor to be reached in case of an emergency.
“We have students with various health complications and we manage them. We are waiting to admit the student and I only asked for the letter before I do so,” she said.
