Schools warned not to defy orders

By MALINDA KALE
SCHOOLS defying instructions not to host provincial cultural days will be charged with insubordination, says assistant Education secretary Sam Lora.
“Schools are not obliged to host provincial days, and the public should know that the schools are for our children’s learning,” he said.
“They are not for staging such things which defeats the purpose of learning.
“That is why the head teachers and the boards of management should take heed of this notice, let us not be driven by the money that is made from these events.”
Lora said experiences from hosting provincial day celebrations had often seen school property vandalised and damaged, alcohol consumed and outsiders harass and stealing from those who attended as well from the school.
He said school properties should be of paramount importance to their administrations.
In addition, Lora said some of the provincial days fell on school days and schools did not have the authority to suspend class affect students’ learning.
He said acceptations were made for Gerehu and New Erima primary schools because of their advanced planning but apart from those two cases, all schools in the National Capital District were instructed to cease hosting provincial days on school premises.
He added that he had rejected several requests from schools to host provincial days and warned that the department would not be responsible for damages to school property or for public liability.