We don't want him! Parents, leaders and BOM reject new Isiolo Boys Principal

Parents, political and religious leaders, and the Board of Management of Isiolo Boys High School have expressed displeasure with the planned transfer of the School Principal James Gituma who was confirmed as school head months ago after serving as the Deputy Principal for seven years.

Led by BOM Chairperson Mohammed Boru and Isiolo Parents Association counterpart Ismael Galma, they said it was unfair for the Teachers Service Commission to transfer the principal at a time when the school's performance was on an upward trajectory.

Before his confirmation, TSC had deployed a principal to take over the school leadership but was forced to rescind the decision on request by the board and some leaders who praised Gitumas' stint at the school and demanded his promotion.

He had served for more than a year in an acting capacity, following the departure of immediate former principal Abdi Diba who he deputised, before his confirmation.

"He has worked so hard to improve the performance of the school. Sadly, TSC has issued him with two transfers in two months, when he is keen on helping the school reclaim its lost glory," Mohammed said, adding that the mean grade had risen to 5.2 from 3.6 three years ago.

Various education stakeholders at Isiolo Boys High School on July 11, 2024. Photo/Waweru Wairimu

A once revered academic giant, the school suffered gradual disintegration for several years, thanks to radicalization, drug and substance abuse among the students, indiscipline cases, and politicking which saw its population drop to 150 from 600.

Former Isiolo Governor Mohammed Kuti, Petroleum PS Mohammed Liban, and Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal are among the well-known alumni of the school.

The board alleged a plan by the teachers' employer to force the transfer amid growing disapproval among the parents and other education stakeholders.

"TSC is forcing the principal to hand over to the new officer without adequate consultations with the board. The commission should reward but not punish performance. We do not want to see the school go back to where it was many years ago," he said.

Isiolo County Assembly Education Committee Chairperson David Waithaka termed the transfer suspicious, raising concern about why it was happening when the school was preparing its candidates for the national (KCSE) exams.

The Bulapesa MCA demanded the withdrawal of the decision or replacement of the principal with another officer of his capability who will sustain performance.

"The commission should not take the issue lightly. How do you change a winning team?" he posed.

Area MCA Salesio Kiambi said there was no valid reason to transfer the teacher months after his promotion as the principal.

While warning a top TSC official based at Eastern headquarters in Embu, Galma claimed the previous schools where the incoming principal worked including Maikona Girls in Marsabit performed dismally during his tenure.

"We are not ready to compromise the performance of the school. We are not against the transfer but we must be convinced that whoever is taking over is sober and not someone who is a poor performer," he said.

He further lamented what he termed as TSC's habit of deploying teachers who have had indiscipline cases such as absconding from work in other counties to Isiolo schools, blaming it on the poor performance of the schools within towns.

The incoming principal had been deployed after Diba left but was rejected by the board due to alleged misconduct at three former schools he worked in.

Chairperson Ahmed Sett of the Isiolo Interfaith Network and Secretary Stephen Kalunyu stated that appointing a principal who was turned down by the board and parents amounted to a compromise of the school's educational standards.

"We may be forced to withdraw students we have sponsored at the school if we feel they will not get quality education. We will not watch as the future of the children is ruined," Ahmed said.

"We do not want to see Isiolo Boys go back to where it was and collapse as it happened to Garbatulla High School due to politicking," Abdia Adan, a board member said.

The school board and TSC officials spent the better part of Thursday afternoon in a heated meeting to try to settle the deadlock.