Kitgum Town College school has been temporarily closed following a violent students strike. The students went on strike on Friday protesting failure by the school authorities to release the mock exam timetables ahead of the exams on Monday.
They hurled stones and sticks at the teachers, broke windows, doors and furniture. According to a section of students, they also paid money for academic seminars which they have not attended since the beginning of the term. The students also complained about the ‘bad’ food that they were being given at the school.
The school head teacher, Michael Ocan dismissed the allegations being raised by the students and instead blamed the strike on some fees defaulters. He says the students had never raised any formal complaints to the school administration.
Kitgum central police station community liaison officer Emily Amina Afoyocan says that preliminary investigations indicate a section of teachers masterminded the strike. She however declined to reveal the names.
The school’s director Fred Owot who also doubles as the district education officer says that the school will remain closed as investigations into the strike continue. He also says that there are plans to convene a meeting with teachers, district leaders and parents.
Owot says the closure will affect the normal operations of school especially the mock examinations that were meant to commence on Monday.
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