By Stanley Ebele & Kizito Obwonyo
Dokolo-Students of St. Francis Technical School went on strike on Monday afternoon dissenting against the decision by the school administration banning mobile phones and non-uniform clothes at the school premises.
The school rules and regulations bar students from using mobile phones and wearing non-uniform throughout the school term.
On Friday, the school administration confiscated mobile phones and destroyed them. The administration also burnt prohibited attire confiscated from students and suspended 11 students for being ring leaders in breaking the said rules and regulations.
The students were suspended from the school for a period of two months starting from 19th Sept and were asked to report with their parents.
LBS Newsday has established that 11 smart phones were confiscated and broken beyond repair while all non-uniform attires were burnt to ashes.
On Monday, trouble started when the students refused to enter their classes after break time demanding the administrations to pay their property which was destroyed and burnt on Friday.
Simon Obongi, the Director of Studies survived being lynched by the angry students when he tried to force them into their classes. Obongi immediately vanished from the compound as the students hurled abuses at him.
Olem Karoroli, the head boy of the school explained that the students were angry because the school administration acted without prior notice or warning to them.
A female student who asked not to be named in order to speak freely said that during the impromptu operation on Friday, the administration inspected their boxes and bags without any regard to privacy. She added that the administration intruded into their dormitory checking all their private belongings publicly in total breach to their right to privacy.
According to Simon Obongi the director of studies, the students are required in uniform all time in order to ease identification.
David Abila, the deputy head teacher of St Francis Technical School insists that according to the school rules and regulations, students are not allowed in the school premises in non uniform.
He said a meeting will be held with the parents to harmonize the situation.
