By Our reporter.
Parents have stormed St. Christine’s School in Kakumiro district tasking the management to explain why they failed to make adequate transport arrangements, that made 27 candidates miss the mathematics paper on November 8, Tuesday morning.
How the candidates missed out
The affected candidates had registered at Mpasana primary school UNEB center in Mpasana town council, due to lack of UNEB center number in their own school.
To their shock, the candidates were turned away by the invigilators on their arrival to do a morning paper, claiming they arrived one hour and fifteen minutes late for the exams that start at exactly 9 am.
The time of arrival, according to UNEB instructions does not favor further sitting of the examination.
Director blames transport system
The school director, Pascal Asiimwe, blamed the mess on transport challenges which hindered candidates arrival on time.
The candidates were however allowed to sit for social studies, that took place in the afternoon which further insighted parents.
On Wedsday morning, parents stormed St. Christine School demanding a clear explanation from the authorities as to why their children missed the paper yet they cleared all the school fees and other requirements on time.
Parents speak out
Silva Rushokoza, one of the parents whose child missed a mathematics paper, says that he was shocked to hear that his child had missed a paper.
He wants the school to refund the money he paid for his child since he has to repeat primary seven next year.
He noted that they are ready to drag the school management to court for destroying the future of their children for the last seven years.
Emmanuel Mpirirwe, the school PTA Chairperson observed that the director is to blame for the mess since parents played their part by clearing all the requirements needed for their children to the exams. He wants the government to take stern action against the director.
Patrick Tibanyenza, another parent says prior to the start of PLE, they agreed all the candidates be relocated Mpasana Primary school UNEB center where they would write their exams from. He wondered why the school authorities rejected their proposal and wants the government to help them hunt for the school director who has since gone into hiding for justice to prevail.
Stellazia Namirembe, another aggrieved parent, says it is too painful for their children to complete seven years at school only to miss their final examinations. She has rallied other parents to mobilize resources and drag the school to court to compensate them and their children
DEO observes negligence of duty
William Baleke, the Kakumiro District Education Officer, says that there was a lot of negligence on the part of the school, saying appropriate disciplinary action is to be taken against the school management. Major David Matovu, the Kakumiro Resident District Commissioner-RDC, says the school authorities should account for the mess.
Pascal Asiimwe has since vanished from the school and switched off his known mobile telephone numbers.
Meanwhile, A total of 4,334 Primary seven candidates registered for the Primary Leaving Examinations-PLE in Kakumiro district this year.
