Community protests over not being given priority in school

By OLIVE SUKUN
PEOPLE in the communities and Motu-Koitabu villages around the Kilakila Secondary School held a protest yesterday concerning first preference spacing for their children but were later dispersed by police officers on arrival.
A mother, Florence Ben, told The National that she had lived in Kaugere for five years and that her son was still at home when it was already the fourth week of the first school term.
“My son upgraded his marks through Flexible Open and Distance Education (Fode) and I want to enrol him here but spaces are full,” Ben said.
“We are living here, just around the school and we can’t be given that chance for our children to enrol instead there are so many students who have enrolled at this school and don’t even reside here.”
Eileen Kidu from Pari was advised by her village councilor that the children of Motu-Koitabu villages should be given first priority when but that was not the case over the past years.
“My son has been doing Fode and I want to see if I can enroll him here but there seems to be no chance for him because there are no spaces available.
“The schools here are not only taking in Motu-Koita children, they are also taking in settlers children and we can’t be selfish,” Kidu said.
A notice put up at the school gate said the school administration and the principal would not see anyone looking for space as there was currently no space available in all grades (7-12).
Meanwhile, principal Herman Panai said spaces were full with 65-70 students in a class and taking in more students would only compromise the quality of learning.
He said parents needed to understand that only students with good marks would be considered.
Panai told parents to go back in April and check with an additional list that would be out.