Karonga District Council Education Office has ordered 400 St. Monica Community Day Secondary School students in Karonga District to pay K16 million for vandalising property of the head teacher during riots at the school early this month.
During the fracas, it is alleged that the students, backed by the community, vandalised and stole items, including two fridges, a sofa set, a plasma television set, a laptop computer, a bag of fertiliser and maize flour besides killing domestic animals such as guinea fowls, goats and 32 chickens, all valued at about K14.4 million.
In an interview on Monday, Karonga district director of education, youths and sports Mercy Mayuni said the decision follows an assessment conducted after students went on rampage before Easter holidays and damaged assorted items.
She said: “It is true that students have been ordered to pay K16 million to replace the head teacher’s stolen property.
“The school will only open when the students pay the K16 million, otherwise they [students] have the students council as a bridge between them and school management to resolve misunderstandings before they escalate into chaos.”
However, Chilanga Ward councillor Benedicto Mwamsamale said parents, while accepting the penalty, asked for leniency as they cannot raise the said amount.
“Parents tried to reason with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for authorities to open the school while parents are raising the K16 million to enable students in forms two and four catch up with their friends elsewhere,” he said.
