Teso College recalls suspended students

By Salume Among

TESO College Aloet administration has recalled the 13 students who were suspended for sneaking out of the school to undergo circumcision.

The administration recalled the students to resume studies pending the final decision of the school’s board of governors. 

The head teacher, Sylvester Ocaatum, said the students reported back to school on Tuesday accompanied by their parents.

“Our position as a school is to suspend. The board sits and makes a decision which it forwards to the education ministry,” Ocaatum said.

The students were suspended after they went to Princess Diana Health Centre IV in Soroti Municipality to undergo circumcision.

Ocaatum said the school had called for an emergency board of governors’ meeting to make a final decision on the matter.

“We are not against circumcision. It should be done at the right time and with the consent of the parents of students who are below the age of 18,” Ocaatum said.

He said most of the affected students were between the age of 15 and 17.

Ocaatum expressed his disappointment over the way the administration had been criticised in the media by some members of the public.

“Some people are ignorant about the management of a school. Issues of discipline and other matters of the school are not matters of opinion but rules and regulations,” he observed.

Ocaatum narrated how the school suffered a tragedy in 1999 when a student escaped from school and was killed at Apalitunga Bridge on the Soroti- Katakwi road. He asked parents to advise their children to abide by the school rules and regulations.

“Once they breach the rules, they will earn themselves a suspension or even expulsion,” Ocaatum noted.