Nakuru Girls High School closed indefinitely after student unrest

Nakuru Girls High School students vacate the institution this morning after it was closed indefinitely due to unrest. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Nakuru Girls High School has been closed indefinitely, and students sent home after they destroyed end-of-term examination papers for all classes on Tuesday night at around 9.30 pm.

In a message sent by the school's Principal Rose Menjo, parents were informed that the students broke into the exam room, damaging property of unknown value.

"Dear parent/guardian, I regret to inform you that there was a disturbance in the school at night after preps at 9.30 pm. During this unrest, the students broke into the examination room and destroyed all end-of-term exams for all classes," read the message.

The message added that the students broke window panes, and the extent of the damage in the evaluation room needed assessment by the state department of public works.

"The situation in the school has been contained, and all the students are safe. The school closes today (Wednesday) at 8 am until further communication. Make arrangements to facilitate your daughter's travel," read a message to a parent.

Victoria Mulili, the Nakuru County Director of Education, confirmed the incident.

Mulili confirmed that initial signs showed that the students did not want to do examinations.

She said that when the situation calmed down, all the students urged the school to let them go home.

"The situation is calm following last night's unrest. The students wanted to go home and insisted that they had no problem doing their examinations when the school reopens for the third term," said Mulili.

According to Mulili, the school management closed the school as a precaution because they were allegedly unsure what would have happened if they allowed the students to remain in school.

She said that the management will not sit and discuss way forward, which may include reopening the school a week earlier, for the students to sit their examinations.

Students who spoke as they went home said the unrest was because of alleged mounting academic pressure.

In their discussions, the students claimed they were unhappy with the quality of food they are served.

"We have been mistreated but our grievances have been consistently ignored. Instead of the school addressing them, they have silenced us," shouted a student.

Another one explained what happened, saying they vandalized the school's evaluation room where exam papers were stored, destroyed printers, computers, and damaged the assembly hall.

"We also dismantled the Wi-Fi and cable connections and some of us attacked the teachers," said another student.

Dan Ambali, a parent said they had little information about the incident and the communication would have been better made through phone calls.