By Okong’o Oduya
Parents with children in Bridge International Schools in Busia County have been warned not to take their children in those schools when schools reopen early next month.
According to chairman education board in Busia Stephen Odebero, the school leadership is yet to obtain all requirements needed to operate in areas they are situated. Talking to press Mr. Odebero added that as education board within the county they don’t recognize documents presented to them by the institution allowing them run business as usual.
He said that the management should reapply and obtain legal documents from the board before they can be allowed to continue their business. He also noted that if the management doesn’t agree with decisions made by the board they should then appeal to the tribunal to get a way forward.
“These schools should present their appeal to the tribunal if they feel like we are being harsh to them. But let them know that as a body we do not recognize the presence of schools in the county and we are not going to allow parents to take their children there. These schools are not registered.” He warned.
Odebero wanted parents to understand the curriculum offered by the institution before they send their children there. He wanted them to take them elsewhere either in public or private and registered schools when the schools resumes next term.
He said the board has directed all deputy county commissioners across the county not to allow the schools to open next term until it obtain the valid documents needed by the board. “We have directed all deputy county commissioners through letters not to allow these schools to reopen next term. The situation will remain that way until they receive further information.”
He further warned the deputy governor Kizito Wangalwa and any other political leader not to middle in their affairs saying that they arrived at the decision after conducting investigation. He urged the county government to stop politicizing education issues adding that this will not reverse their decision.
“Deputy Governor should distance himself from this issue. What he should realize is that he is a politician, we are not instead he should leave us do our work without interference” he added
He noted that the board comprises various stakeholders including cabinet secretary of education from the county government, TSC,KNUT among other bodies adding that there is no way the county government will contradict their decision yet it was represented.
This comes months after the board arrived at the decision of closing down the schools when schools reopens next term a move that raised mixed reactions between the parents, the school management and the leaders within the county. Deputy Governor differed with the board adding that more than 2500 pupils in six primary schools in the county will be stranded if the schools fail to reopen next term.
On the other side communication officer , Bridge International Schools Jacqueline Walumbe noted that there is no way the board will close down the schools without having heard their side of story. Speaking to press in Busia few weeks ago Walumbe called on the board to carry out enough investigations about the curriculum offered by their institution before taking action against them. She further said the board should instead state clear areas they think they need to improve and they will respond.
