Principal of Utumishi Girls Academy sent on compulsory leave
principal of Utumishi Girls Academy has been sent on compulsory leave as part of sweeping reforms that paved the way for the school's reopening
The principal of Utumishi Girls Academy has been sent on compulsory leave as part of sweeping reforms that paved the way for the school’s reopening more than a month after a dormitory fire claimed the lives of 16 students.
The decision emerged from an eight-hour meeting between parents and officials from the Ministry of Education on Monday, June 29, during which parents agreed to allow learners back to school after initially rejecting reopening plans over unresolved safety concerns.
The institution is now set to reopen in phases, with Form Four students expected to report on Thursday, July 2, while the remaining learners will resume classes on Monday, July 6.
Parents had on Sunday declined to send their daughters back to school, insisting they would only do so after receiving firm assurances that adequate safety measures had been put in place to prevent a repeat of the May tragedy.
They argued that the school management had failed to provide a clear roadmap outlining the reforms undertaken since the fire, which left 16 students dead and raised questions over compliance with school safety standards.
Following consultations with Ministry of Education officials, however, parents accepted a raft of administrative and infrastructural reforms, with the principal’s compulsory leave cited as one of the key changes.
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The development comes weeks after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dissolved the school’s Board of Management for failing to comply with the School Safety Manual and the Basic Education Regulations.
Parents were also informed that students would be accommodated in dormitories that were not affected by the fire, while the National Police Service is constructing temporary structures to provide additional accommodation as longer-term projects are implemented.
“The dormitories that were not affected by the fire will accommodate our girls. The National Police Service is also putting up temporary structures for the students,” one parent said after the meeting.
To reduce overcrowding during the transition period, the school will expand its dining hall to ease congestion and convert two classrooms into temporary dormitories as construction of new dormitories begins.
Despite agreeing to the reopening, some parents criticised the government for what they termed inadequate support in rebuilding the school’s infrastructure.
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