Students riot in Nkhotakotata

Angry students at Nkhunga Community Day Secondary School in Nkhotakota went riot on Monday and destroyed K1.7 million property following disagreements with school management.

Nkhunga Police Station spokesperson Ignatius Esau said the school’s head teacher, Bertha Chiphazi Kapida, told police that on April 1 2019 the school was set to start administering end of second term examinations to both day and open students.

He said disagreements arose when it transpired that the students were to provide their own answer sheets due to stationery challenges at the school.

“The development [is said to have] angered the students who went on the rampage stoning classrooms, administration blocks, kitchen, laboratory and girls’ hostels resulting in the damage of 306 window panes, louvres, two doors, and other property. They also burned the head teacher’s maize field,” said Esau.

He said police were called in and apart from dispersing the angry students, they arrested two students for interrogation.

According to Esau, police have since condemned the student’s actions with an appeal to give dialogue a chance whenever there are disagreements.

Kapida said the students’ conduct was disappointing.

“The issue was simple and they should have understood the school’s situation,” she said, adding that the school has since closed temporarily.