Principal probed after students found with bhang, sex toys

The newly appointed Busia County Education Board chairman Professor John Shiundu (centre) with Director of Education Theddeus Awuor (left) and TSC Director Ibrahim Rugut (right) address the media on March 12, 2019. [Ignatius Odanga/Standard]

The County Education Board (CEB) his investigating an incident where six candidates at St Monica Chakol Girls in Teso South Constituency were found with bhang and sex toys.

The students were later suspended indefinitely and internal investigation launched to find out how the items found their ways into the dormitories. Four students have since been interrogated over the matter.

The John Shiundu-led board yesterday probed Chakol Girls Principal Sellah Aketch in the office of County Director of Education Thaddeus Awuor in Busia town. Ms Aketch is alleged to have kept the CEB in the dark on the incident.

After the meeting, Prof Shiundu (above), who is the chairman of the education board, told the media the principal defended the decision to suspend the students for fear of influencing other learners, with less than three months to the start of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

“Our preliminary investigation shows that some other things were not done in accordance with the law that governs education by the management of the school,” said Shiundu.

The CEB chair urged principals in the county to be vigilant to avoid cases of students sneaking hard drugs into schools.

Others present in the meeting were Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Busia chapter Executive Secretary Moses Okisai, Teachers Service Commission Director Ibrahim Rugut and County Director of Quality Assurance officer Francis Makori.