Management of Siaya central primary school have denied allegations that they planned to bar weak pupils from proceeding to standard eight after they failed to attain cut off marks.
Led by the institution’s Board of Management chairman Joseph Ngoye and the head teacher, George Ochieng, the officials termed as baseless, reports by a section of parents that 32 pupils who did not obtain 300 marks at the end of 2018 examinations will not be allowed to join the candidate class in 2019.
Ochieng, the board of management secretary said he read mischief in the reports, adding that it could be a ploy to bring down the institution that has over the years recorded excellent performance in national examinations.
“As school administration, we are aware of the government policy that requires 100% transition from one class to the other” said Ochieng adding that there was no way they could violate such policy.
He said that all the 146 pupils who were in standard seven in 2018 will proceed to the next class as resolved in the last board of management meeting held in October, 2018.
Ochieng said that of the 146, only 52 pupils scored 300 marks and above and wondered why they could only target 32 pupils.
The chairman, Joseph Ngoye, flanked by BoM members Patricia Apoli and Hellen Sirumba challenged anybody with an issue to visit the institution and peruse the records.
A section of the parents in the school said the management had resolved to bar pupils who did not reach the 300 marks pass mark from proceeding the standard eight, giving them an option of repeating class.
A parent, Angeline Awuor Oshule through Oruenjo, Kibet and Khalid advocates, filed a complaint to the Siaya county director of education accusing the school of planning to bar the pupils.
In a letter dated 5th December, 2018, the parent accused Ochieng of being “notorious” in barring pupils who fail to reach the set pass mark from proceeding to standard eight and has allegedly been pressurising parents to seek transfers for their children who cannot conform.
By Philip Onyango
