Students of Chepalungu Technical Training Institute on Tuesday took to the streets to protest against the institution’s administration over a range of unresolved grievances.
The irate learners marched to Chebunyo Market, where they voiced their frustrations, accusing the management of failing to address long-standing concerns. They said their repeated pleas had fallen on deaf ears, leaving them with no option but to demonstrate.
At the centre of the protests is the cost of industrial attachment, which the students described as excessively high. They demanded that the fees be scrapped or reduced to a reasonable amount of Sh5,000, arguing that the current charges are financially burdensome.
The students also called for the issuance of result slips free of charge, claiming they are being required to pay for documents that should ordinarily be accessible at no extra cost.
Concerns were also raised about the accounts office, which students accused of lacking transparency and timely updates on financial records. They cited delays and inconsistencies when seeking clarification on fee balances and payments.
Academic issues also featured prominently, with learners decrying a lack of adequate practical materials. They argued that as a technical institution, practical training is essential, yet they are often forced to rely on theory due to insufficient tools and equipment.
The absence of student identification cards since 2024 has further fueled dissatisfaction, with students saying the lack of IDs has caused inconvenience both within and outside the institution.
Additionally, the learners described the learning environment as unconducive, citing congestion and what they termed a “busy environment” that disrupts effective study.
Allegations of nepotism were also raised, with claims that most trainers are recruited from the principal’s residential area, sparking concerns over fairness and transparency in hiring. Students further accused the administration of failing to publicly advertise job opportunities within the institution.
Some protesters also alleged that the principal has resorted to issuing threats instead of engaging in dialogue to resolve the issues.
Efforts to obtain a response from the institution’s administration were still ongoing by the time of publication.
The protest disrupted learning activities, with students calling on relevant education authorities to intervene and address their concerns to restore normal operations at the institution.
