When St. Peter’s College students went on rampage

St. Peter’s College Tororo, was abruptly closed on October 31 after a violent strike by students. They cited poor administration. Education Vision’s Jude Etyang visited the school after the strike and reports. IT can be said that, St. Peter’s College Tororo, the giant of the east is being haunted by it’s own motto: “The palm tree grows under difficulty.” The school was prematurely closed down before the end of the third term. This is the second time St. Peter’s is being closed down prematurely. Last year, the school was closed when students set fire to the the headteacher’s house. Mr Joel Mpyangu was the school head then. Poor administration was the reason cited by the students for the strike. Mr Bernard Wakwale, the new headteacher, has also failed to complete a year smoothly as the school faces what could be the worst administrative crisis since it was established in 1941. Warning signals are loud at the now deserted campus that if prudent changes are not made this once great school is heading for disaster. Education Vision learnt from several teachers at the school, that a big number of parents have picked recommendation forms for their children in order to take them to other schools. They expressed fear that the school might fail to register even half of its population of 1,000 next academic year. “I cannot allow my boys to grow in this kind of confusion. They definitely cannot concentrate on their books under these unstable circumstances,” a bitter parent who also happens to be a teacher at the school said. A Senior Four teacher who opted for anonymity said this fear is compounded by the fact that non of the Senior Four candidates had applied to be re-admitted for their A level at the School. “They are just applying to Namilyango, Kisubi and other schools and not even one has filled in St. Peters.” The source said. The source said that when he asked the students why they had not applied to return to Tororo College, and they reportedly said the administration was no longer trustworthy. Joseph Odulusi, the teacher who was reportedly assaulted by Wakwale said that he has filed an assault case with the police. Odulusi, an Economics teacher and executive member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), further said that Wakwale was not transparent in financial matters. He alleged that the headteacher had driven the school into heavy debt. The school has a sh16m debt with a food supplier. “It was the students who stopped the creditor from attaching the school truck,” Odulusi said. Odulusi disclosed that teachers had not received allowances for over three months. Odulusi said Wakwale failed to react fast to students’ grievances. The headteacher had not addressed students in a general assembly for over a month. Odulusi added that the closure of the school was not necessary and that it was an arbitrary action because Wakwale and the District Education Officer (DEO) did not first consult the teachers. “This was just a discipline case which could be solved by screening, identifying and expelling the wrong elements, instead of making every body suffer because of a band of thugs,” Odulusi observed. Mr Yona Doya, the DEO however, told Education Vision that the situation had got out of control and that immediate closure of the school was the only alternative. Doya also confirmed that Tororo College was facing internal problems but said he did not have full knowledge of the crisis. Before the closure, Tororo College students on October 30, 2001 fought running battles with students of Manjasi High school paralysing the entire town. When Education Vision visited the school, it was obvious that something was wrong. The air around the campus was thick with tension of a cold war between Wakwale and the members of the teaching staff. 50 of the staff signed a memo early this month demanding for the sacking of the headteacher. Wakwale, however, denied the allegations saying that all these were lies made up by malicious people. “All those things which were written in the newspapers are lies. I shall react to them when the time comes,” he said in his defence. On Friday, November 16, the school board of governors, led by Bishop James Odong of Mbale diocese, met in the school library. According to a source who attended the meeting, the teachers’ controversial memo against Wakwale was not discussed conclusively. The teachers expected the board to send Wakwale on a forced leave. Mr John Emongogel, the second deputy headteacher said it was resolved that the school will be re-opened next year. It will open three weeks earlier than the official date to enable the students sit their third term promotional examinations. Emongongel attended the board meeting. Mr Sam Onek, the director of education, said that a team was investigating allegations raised against Wakwale. He also revealed that an internal audit report on the school was complete and that they were waiting for a counter-audit report from the Auditor General. “As soon as the Attorney General’s report is out we shall start taking administrative steps. We have to save the school, we cannot leave it because of one person,” he said. He said that the ministry had realised that it was important to expand monetary systems for secondary schools. Onek said that specific monitors would be assigned like resident district commissioners (RDCs) or chief administrative officers (CAOs). He said the monitors would check whether schools are opening or closing in time, if schools heads were increasing charges unjustifiably and to carry out regular audits. Charles Ateker, the outgoing head prefect, observed that indiscipline among the students was high and that the administration had failed to control the situation. “The practise of drinking and smoking was on the rise. Wrong elements were free in the society and they contaminated the rest of the students,” he said. Hopefully, next year will be a good one for St. Peter’s College, Tororo.