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Kenneth Gachie
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Her mother, Virginia Mawewu, said the gum was accidentally left in the bag and that her daughter admitted to the oversight immediately.
A 15-year-old student from St. Albertina-Kiongwani Girls High School in Makueni County now risks missing her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams after her suspension over possession of a chewing gum.
The form four student, who had been out of school since the suspension, was reportedly found with chewing gum in her bag during a routine search as she was returning from the midterm break of the second term.
Her mother, Virginia Mawewu, said the gum was accidentally left in the bag and that her daughter admitted to the oversight immediately.
According to Mawewu, administrators at St. Albertina-Kiongwani are demanding restitution in the form of chewing gum, enough for all 580 students, for the girl to be allowed back to school.
The cost of the gums for the schoolโs total population would be an estimated Ksh16,800.
โShe has already missed two major exam sessions, including the end-of-term two and third-term opener exams,โ Mawewu told NTV. โThey are insisting we bring the gum before she can be allowed back.โ
The schoolโs principal, Jacqueline Kealo, declined to comment on the matter when approached.
Makueni County Education Director Rashid Ali, on his part, confirmed that his office had received a formal complaint and was investigating the matter.
With the national exams just weeks away, time is running out for the student to catch up and revise.
The incident has drawn public outrage, with critics calling the schoolโs punishment excessive and potentially damaging to the studentโs academic future.
Paul Kart, a concerned citizen, criticized the schoolโs decision and called for higher-level intervention.
โThe parent should go to the Ministry of Education. If she doesnโt get help there, she should go to court. Thereโs nothing like such rules in the education sector,โ he said.
On his part, X user Laingo Nkanga wrote, "How did they arrive at Sh.16,800? School punishments should be realistic and within the law. Furthermore, studies have shown chewing gum can increase brain activity by boosting blood flow and neural activity in regions of the brain responsible for attention, memory, & alertness."
Yet another Kenyan said, "Which law give school heads power to be prosecutors and judges? This is a clear case of a child denied a right to education. Can this be a lesson to others?"
However, others supported the schoolโs stance on discipline.
โIf chewing gum is prohibited in that school, then let the student carry his or her cross,โ said Levi Mwanawassa.
On X, @MarkMbiti1 condemned the schoolโs action as outdated. โThis retrogressive thinking is still present in schools,โ he posted, drawing support from several users.
Wagura Waweru offered a sarcastic take saying โShe should have been chewing books, not gum!โ
ยฉCitizen Digital, Kenya
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- According to Mawewu, administrators at St. Albertina-Kiongwani are demanding restitution in the form of chewing gum, enough for all 580 students, for the girl to be allowed back to school.
Her mother, Virginia Mawewu, said the gum was accidentally left in the bag and that her daughter admitted to the oversight immediately.
A 15-year-old student from St. Albertina-Kiongwani Girls High School in Makueni County now risks missing her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams after her suspension over possession of a chewing gum.
The form four student, who had been out of school since the suspension, was reportedly found with chewing gum in her bag during a routine search as she was returning from the midterm break of the second term.
Her mother, Virginia Mawewu, said the gum was accidentally left in the bag and that her daughter admitted to the oversight immediately.
According to Mawewu, administrators at St. Albertina-Kiongwani are demanding restitution in the form of chewing gum, enough for all 580 students, for the girl to be allowed back to school.
The cost of the gums for the schoolโs total population would be an estimated Ksh16,800.
โShe has already missed two major exam sessions, including the end-of-term two and third-term opener exams,โ Mawewu told NTV. โThey are insisting we bring the gum before she can be allowed back.โ
The schoolโs principal, Jacqueline Kealo, declined to comment on the matter when approached.
Makueni County Education Director Rashid Ali, on his part, confirmed that his office had received a formal complaint and was investigating the matter.
With the national exams just weeks away, time is running out for the student to catch up and revise.
The incident has drawn public outrage, with critics calling the schoolโs punishment excessive and potentially damaging to the studentโs academic future.
Paul Kart, a concerned citizen, criticized the schoolโs decision and called for higher-level intervention.
โThe parent should go to the Ministry of Education. If she doesnโt get help there, she should go to court. Thereโs nothing like such rules in the education sector,โ he said.
On his part, X user Laingo Nkanga wrote, "How did they arrive at Sh.16,800? School punishments should be realistic and within the law. Furthermore, studies have shown chewing gum can increase brain activity by boosting blood flow and neural activity in regions of the brain responsible for attention, memory, & alertness."
Yet another Kenyan said, "Which law give school heads power to be prosecutors and judges? This is a clear case of a child denied a right to education. Can this be a lesson to others?"
However, others supported the schoolโs stance on discipline.
โIf chewing gum is prohibited in that school, then let the student carry his or her cross,โ said Levi Mwanawassa.
On X, @MarkMbiti1 condemned the schoolโs action as outdated. โThis retrogressive thinking is still present in schools,โ he posted, drawing support from several users.
Wagura Waweru offered a sarcastic take saying โShe should have been chewing books, not gum!โ
ยฉCitizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
