Ombachi College expels 16 over strike
Sep 29, 2010
ST. Joseph’s College Ombachi in Arua district has dismissed 16 Senior Four candidates over a strike that has paralysed the school for three days.
By Richard Drasimaku
ST. Joseph’s College Ombachi in Arua district has dismissed 16 Senior Four candidates over a strike that has paralysed the school for three days.
The 16 were accused of instigating violence in which windows and doors were broken, textbooks stolen, desks and the school bus vandalised.
They will only return to sit for their final exams after paying a fine of sh100,000 each. They have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for every exam.
The punishment was made on recommendation of the Police, who took over the affairs of the school until Tuesday morning when they withdrew to their barracks in Arua town.
“The destruction was enormous and the situation very tense,†said Phillip Mukasa, the West Nile Police spokesperson.
He said it all started when the students had gone for a picnic near Radio Pacis in Pajulu sub-county unaccompanied by staff members and expected to be driven back in the school bus.
Trouble started when the school administration sent a Tata lorry to pick them, a decision they rejected.
They walked back to school and refused to take part in an evening rollcall, preferring to talk to the headmaster forcefully.
After failing to meet the headmaster, the students decided to hold an unauthorised disco that went beyond midnight and later vented their anger by turning violent.
In a disciplinary sitting of the school administration and the police, 16 of the ring- leaders were identified and expelled.
Mukasa said the culprits were paraded with their luggage in front of the rest of the students and members of staff before being escorted out of the school.
Accordingly, the police have chosen Ombachi as a community policing area where the students will be lectured on discipline, respect for elders and observing law and order.
“We fear that the school, which has been experiencing frequent strikes and chaos, might turn into a regional centre for training criminals,†he said.
Mukasa blamed the administration for failing to communicate with the students.
ST. Joseph’s College Ombachi in Arua district has dismissed 16 Senior Four candidates over a strike that has paralysed the school for three days.
The 16 were accused of instigating violence in which windows and doors were broken, textbooks stolen, desks and the school bus vandalised.
They will only return to sit for their final exams after paying a fine of sh100,000 each. They have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for every exam.
The punishment was made on recommendation of the Police, who took over the affairs of the school until Tuesday morning when they withdrew to their barracks in Arua town.
“The destruction was enormous and the situation very tense,†said Phillip Mukasa, the West Nile Police spokesperson.
He said it all started when the students had gone for a picnic near Radio Pacis in Pajulu sub-county unaccompanied by staff members and expected to be driven back in the school bus.
Trouble started when the school administration sent a Tata lorry to pick them, a decision they rejected.
They walked back to school and refused to take part in an evening rollcall, preferring to talk to the headmaster forcefully.
After failing to meet the headmaster, the students decided to hold an unauthorised disco that went beyond midnight and later vented their anger by turning violent.
In a disciplinary sitting of the school administration and the police, 16 of the ring- leaders were identified and expelled.
Mukasa said the culprits were paraded with their luggage in front of the rest of the students and members of staff before being escorted out of the school.
Accordingly, the police have chosen Ombachi as a community policing area where the students will be lectured on discipline, respect for elders and observing law and order.
“We fear that the school, which has been experiencing frequent strikes and chaos, might turn into a regional centre for training criminals,†he said.
Mukasa blamed the administration for failing to communicate with the students.