Makueni girl risks KCSE after punishment to buy chewing gum for school

St. Albertina Kiongwani Girls. [Stephen Nzioka, Standard]

A 15-year-old student from Kiongwani Girls in Makueni County may miss this year's KCSE examination as she has remained suspended since last term after being found in possession of chewing gum at school.

According to the girl's mother, Virginia Maweu from Marwa village in Kilome Sub-County, the Form Four student was found with three packets of "P.K" breath-freshener brand chewing gum.

The school administration is now demanding that the parents purchase chewing gum for the entire student body. Failure to do so, they insist, will result in the student not being allowed back to school.

"When students were returning from mid-term last term, she was found with three P.K chewing gums during a search at the gate, which she admitted she had forgotten in her bag. This marked the beginning of her troubles at the school. Later, she was sent home with a demand to purchase chewing gum for all 580 students at a total cost of Sh16,800," Maweu told The Standard.

Attempts by the parents to request the school principal, Jackyline Kyalo, to allow them to settle the fine in instalments have hit a dead end, as the school administration has insisted on full payment.

"As a parent, I feel the school is punishing me unfairly. I had already cleared the school fees for my child, only to be forced into negotiations on how to pay a hefty fine which, to me, feels like double payment of school fees," Maweu said.

The girl has already missed the end-of-second-term examinations as she remains suspended.

"My daughter is stressed. She has been isolating herself, sitting alone under trees. She often asks me questions every day which I have no answers to-about her future without education. She has missed two sets of exams: the end-of-term two exams and the opener exams for third term," she lamented.

Principal Jackyline Kyalo did not respond to phone calls.

Mukaa Sub-County Education Director, Rashid Ali, confirmed receiving the complaint and said his office was investigating.

"We received this matter and we are investigating because it is not in accordance with the Basic Education Act, 2013, and the Basic Education Regulations, 2015, which emphasise the right to free and compulsory education. This student has a right to education," Ali, the regional Director of Education, told journalists.