Pupils suspended over sex claims get re-admitted

Some of the 13 boys who had been denied re-admission following claims of immorality. (Photo: File/Standard)

Siaya: Thirteen pupils who were suspended from Umina Primary in Ugunja following claims of immorality have been re-admitted.

This follows the intervention by county education officials.

The Standard Seven and Eight pupils, aged between 14 and 16 years were expelled last month by their school head teacher, Dominic Oloo who accused them of indulging in sexual activities with their colleagues and outsiders.

Their parents' concerns were highlighted by The Standard early this week.

County Director of Education Nerea Olick Wednesday said the 13 male students were already back in school and the head teacher had been summoned to explain the issues.

Ms Olick said during his interrogation, the head teacher had maintained that the children were found to be engaging in immoral behaviour.

The director said she received information from the Teachers Service Commission that the head teacher had been served with a warning.

"What he did was wrong and cannot go unpunished. Children at that age need advice, guidance and counselling, not expulsion from learning," she said, adding that the children had a right to education despite the challenges they faced while growing up.

"We will not tolerate such cases. Any teacher found intimidating students will face the wrath of the law. A teacher should know how to handle pupils at every stage," Olick said.

She added that four of the suspended students are scheduled to sit for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams later this year and had lost a lot of time.

The head teacher had denied suspending the pupils even as parents narrated how he had refused to re-admit them despite their pleas.

Twenty-one female students who were also suspended over claims of immorality were later pardoned by the school authorities.

Mr Oloo told parents of the affected pupils that he had "incriminating evidence" that their sons were luring their female classmates to have sex after school.

It was also alleged that some of the girls were in illicit relationships with boda boda riders operating in the neighbourhood.