Teacher: I am being crucified for fighting for pupil

Kisumu, Kenya: A teacher fears for her job after helping in a case where a pupil was allegedly burnt for losing Sh100 to a stranger. Ms Carolyne Obungu who teaches at Dr Robert Ouko Primary School in Kisumu County was reported to the area District Education Officer by the head teacher.

The head teacher allegedly said Obungu had missed classes on three consecutive days while following up on the case. 

Obungu however wondered why the administration was ‘crucifying’ her as she fought for what she termed an injustice against the pupil.

“Why is the school administration seeing as if I am not doing my duty yet I reported the boy’s case to the head teacher before proceeding to the police?” lamented Obungu, adding she had even promised to make up for the lost classes.  

This started on July 10, when she spotted nine-year-old pupil with swellings and blisters on his hands.

Obungu thought the boy had been caught up in a fight with senior pupils in the school but she was puzzled by the boy’s confession. The boy said his hands had been burnt using a semi-molten polythene paper by his father.

Obungu took the boy to St Marks Otonglo dispensary in Kisumu where he was treated.