By Watera Atai,
ZOMBO
Parents of Arikpa Primary School in Athuma Sub-county, Zombo District, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest demanding the immediate transfer of the school’s headteacher, Palma Orochi, over alleged poor accountability and administration.
The parents accused Orochi of mismanaging funds, including development contributions and extra lessons fees paid by parents. They also alleged that she frequently absconded from duty and had failed to supervise teachers, some of whom reportedly spend time in local bars instead of attending to classes.
Zombo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua commended the parents for conducting a peaceful demonstration without destroying school property.
“The parents marched peacefully and demanded that the headteacher be replaced immediately. They claim she was not transparent on accountability, had poor administration and was not relating well with the community,” Ayikobua said.
He said the district security committee had directed Orochi to temporarily step aside to allow investigations into the allegations.
“We shall investigate the matter thoroughly and come out with a clear resolution,” Ayikobua said.
The deputy headteacher has since been appointed to serve in an acting capacity as investigations continue.
However, Orochi dismissed the allegations, saying the protest stemmed from the expulsion of an indisciplined pupil.
She alleged that one of the school’s staff members connived with the pupil’s mother to mobilise the community against her.
Orochi also claimed that some community members were unhappy over land acquired by her husband in the area.
“They are blaming me for the land my husband has bought, saying I am taking over the area. These people have taken the law into their own hands,” she said.
The headteacher, who said she was away from the school when the parents stormed the premises, argued that education authorities should have first investigated the complaints instead of allowing the situation to escalate.
“If I had done something wrong, the leaders should have come to the school, established the facts and handled the matter through the proper channels rather than mobilising people to attack me. Fortunately, I was not in the office,” she said.
Despite the standoff, normal lessons continued at the school as the investigations got underway.
