• Kenya:  Kagumo Teachers College Protest Hiked KNEC Fee

  • Posted by: Staff Writer  just now  in Education    1  Comment
• • Kagumo Teachers College Protest Hiked KNEC Fee
  • Students of Kagumo Teachers College in Nyeri yesterday barricaded the Nyeri-Karatina road protesting an increment of fees by the Kenya National Examination Council.
    
    The more than 600 students accused Knec of raising the fees by Sh3,000 without prior notice. The fees has been raised from Sh12, 300 to Sh15, 300.
    
    "We are surprised that Knec is raising fees after we have already cleared paying what was required. We suspect foul play because we understand the only other Diploma teachers training college in the country has not received similar communication on fee increment," said Nicholas Mabele, a student leader.
    
    Central deputy PPO Gideon Amalla led a contingent of police to restore law and order.
    
    The students said the circular from the council dated September 5, 2011 had inconvenienced them as it states they will not be allowed to sit for their exams in March next year.
    
    Mabele said their attempts to seek redress with the college principal had hit a snag as he had stated the matter was beyond his control. They said attempts to have the Provincial Director of Education address the matter had not borne fruit.
    
    "We have sent a letter to the office of the PDE but we have not received any response. That is why we want to march to his office in Nyeri to know what is going on," said a students who did not want to be named.
    
    The students who were waving anti-Knec placards and twigs also demanded that the Sh4,200 given to teachers on attachment be increased.
    
    They said the notice given by Knec was too short.
    
    The student leaders however said they were ready to sit for their exams next year. He accused the police of using excess force to disperse the students despite them holding a peaceful demonstration.
    
    Attempts by DC Herman Shambi, the deputy PPO and the principal Joseph Ngaroga to calm the students fell on deaf ears as they vowed to continue with the demonstrations.
    
    The principal refused to address the press over the matter.
• Tags:Kagumo Teachers College, Nyeri-Karatina, Gideon Amalla, DC Herman Shambi, Joseph Ngaroga.
• Source:Vanguard

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