Fire fighters put out fire at Maranda High School dormitory on December 5, 2021. [Collins Oduor, Standard]
All Form Two students at Maranda High School are yet to report back for the third term, following the December 5 fire that destroyed a dormitory.
A spot check yesterday revealed that the school was conducting a rigorous re-admission exercise for other students after the troubled second term that saw two arson incidents, one of which culminated in the burning of Boaz Owino Dormitory.
The dormitory was used exclusively by Form Two students.
"We have been admitting students in stages: Form One on Monday, Form Three on Tuesday and Form Four on Wednesday. The problem has been with the Form Two class since their dormitory is still being repaired," said a teacher who cannot be named as he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the school. The principal Edwin Namachanja was away.
Students were accompanied by parents. There were at least six desks and teachers spent hours to manually check what the students had brought to school. This was unlike in December when the institution used sniffer dogs to search the bags. The students were returning to school after being sent away over an arson attempt.
"The drug test is mandatory. This is a condition that must be fulfilled before they can be re-admitted. After this, the school management will sit down to verify the results," another teacher told The Standard.
The students and parents were required to sign a consent form to adhere to school rules and regulations. Besides paying Sh5,125 for the reconstruction of the burnt dorm, the students were also required to clear all fees.
The school has engaged a new security company to man the gate and keep vigil at the institution.
In 2020, five students were arrested on suspicion of hatching a plot to torch Gor Mahia Dormitory.
Things spiralled from bad to worse and last month, the school was closed indefinitely after a second dorm was burnt.
In a recent meeting with the parents, principal Namachanja said the institution was committed to delivering better results.
“The board is working on reopening the school (for the Form II students) and works on the damaged dorm are ongoing,” said Namachanja.
