KABALE PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER FIRE FOR DETAINING TWO FINALISTS OVER UNPAID FEES

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—

The management of Victorious Preparatory school in Kabale district is under fire from education authorities for detaining two primary seven candidates over unpaid fees.

The school director Julius Arineitwe , head teacher Justus Bataringaya and administrator Godfrey Asasire reportedly detained Swaleh Junior Mayanja, 13, and Swahaba Selemba, 11, both sons of Swaleh Mayanja after the completion of their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) last month for allegedly failing to clear third term tuition worth Shillings 1.64 million.

The two pupils whose parents are currently in Rwanda say that they are unable to return home because of travel restrictions in the country.

The Kabale District Education Officer, Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye together with two District Inspectors of Schools, the Acting District Police Commander Mohammed Kyewalyanga and the Kigezi Regional Community Liaison Officer Enock Hatangimana yesterday intervene in the matter.

Tumwijukye said he received a directive from the Director Basic Education in the Ministry of Education; Ismail Mulindwa after the parents of the two teenagers lodged a complaint to him.

He described the detention as criminal, adding that the school should have taken the parents to courts of law, but not punishing the innocent children.

Following the intervention, the children were released and handed over to a relative, one Flavia Nansubuga on agreement that the fees would be cleared within a period of six months.

Justus Bataringaya the Head teacher of Victorious Nursery and Preparatory School says they decided to keep children at school because their parent was a known defaulter.

He says the same parent had another daughter in the school that finished P7 in 2018 and left without clearing a debt of Ugx 510,000.

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