The decision came less than 24 hours after a devastating dormitory fire that destroyed property and heightened tensions within the school.
According to Principal Dr Edwin Namachanja, the move to release the candidates was reached after consultations with the Director of Education’s office as part of efforts to protect lives and safeguard school property amid the growing instability.
The latest development followed a lunchtime protest by the Form Four students, during which several learners reportedly broke dining hall plates and threw away food in defiance of the administration.
The students also allegedly refused to attend afternoon classes and instead circulated handwritten notes demanding to be sent home.
The escalating unrest has now pushed the administration to consider sending Grade 10 students home by Tuesday morning, a move that would effectively lead to the indefinite closure of the school.
The tension at the institution follows an arson incident on Sunday evening in which Form Three students are alleged to have set fire to the three-storey Owino “B” dormitory, a building that houses Form Four students.
The fire destroyed personal belongings of unknown value, leaving affected students counting losses as investigations into the incident continue.
School authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of the unrest, but the sequence of events points to deepening tension among students following the dormitory fire and subsequent administrative decisions.
The destruction caused by the blaze has also raised fresh concern over the recurring cases of student unrest and arson attacks in learning institutions across the country.
Education officials and school administrators have increasingly faced challenges managing student discipline and mental wellbeing amid pressure associated with academics, school rules, and institutional expectations.
The latest incident at Maranda, one of the country’s well-known national schools, is expected to trigger broader discussions on school safety, student grievances, and mechanisms for conflict resolution within learning institutions.