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Parents run to ministry as SMACK blocks students from joining Senior Six
ENTEBBE- A section of parents whose children go to St. Mary’s College, Kisubi (SMACK) have protested a decision by the school administration to block 25 students from joining Senior Six.
The parents say their children were blocked over “trivial issues” which management could have solved by punishing the learners instead of denying them a chance to proceed to the last level of secondary school education.
“All the issues being raised in their [students]end of year term reports are trivial and not academic in nature .If they had failed exams,that is something we could have listened to,” one of the aggrieved parents, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, said on Friday.
According to the parent, his son was accused of dodging morning preps (lessons) and making unnecessary noise at the school.
“We all make noise and I want the school management to explain to us the level of noise which can lead to the dismissal of a student and that which is tolerable,” he said.
Another concerned parent, who also preferred anonymity, said his son passed the end of year exams and wonders why he is being blocked from joining Senior Six .
“Students who are denied promotion are those who score less than 4 points. My son got 15 points, but is listed among those affected. The reasons given for blocking my child from being promoted are weak and unfounded. If there are other issue, let management tell us,” he said.
The school head teacher, Bro Deodat Aganyira could not respond to the accusations because our repeated phone calls on his mobile phone went unanswered since Thursday.
His deputy, Bro Simon Mpanga also declined to talk about the matter “because he was busy.”
Mr Charles Ocici, the chairperson the school’s Parents and teachers Association (PTA) said he had received complaints from affected parents and efforts are being made to engage the school management.
“Some [parents] have already petitioned the Ministry of Education over the matter, but we are having a meeting with management this weekend to look into the matter. As a representative of parents, we expect fairness for both sides,” he said.
Daily Monitor has learnt that members of school Board of Governors are attending a crisis meeting on Saturday to discuss the parents' concerns before the new school term opens early next month.
However, Dr Sharot Kalungi Mafumbo, a member of the board castigated the affected parents for running to the media before engaging the school management.
“The public should know that the school administration cannot make haphazard decisions without following school rules and regulations,” Dr Mafumbo said.
But one of the female parents said they have on several occasions contacted the school administration and their outcries were ignored.
Mr Aggrey Kibenge, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Education confirmed that the ministry had received a petition from the parents and the matter is being investigated .
“After our investigations we [Ministry] will be able to advise accordingly,” Mr Kibenge said.
In 2017 , the school administration sacked 38 staff members; including eight teachers over indiscipline and incompetence.
SMACK is one of the leading academic giants in the country. It was founded 110 years ago by Catholic Church missionaries.
