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| Sunday, 21 September 2003 |
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Agitation against the Principal of St. Paul's Girls' School Milagiriya : Discipline Vs displeasure by ANJANA GAMAGE Schools were once treated as hallowed places of learning, and principals occupied the highest pedestals of honour. But, recent events where a leading girls' school in Bambalapitiya was turned into a battle ground has compelled one to question old values and the respectful principal-teacher student relationship. Months of complaints, counter complaints and teacher-student agitation against the principal of St. Paul's girls' school, Milagiriya, Bambalapitiya climaxed into a free-for-all fisticuff early this month. Insiders reveal that two factions, for and against the principal, had been on a confrontation course for some months, prior to the incident. The principal had been appointed in January and the changes she had initiated, including the transfer of teachers, and the takeover of the management of the school canteen, security and other administrative functions had allegedly angered both teachers and past pupils, who have been demanding that she be replaced. It is alleged that on September 9 several students had been assaulted by some teachers faithful to the Principal. It is also alleged that certain outsiders had joined in the fracas. According to reports, year 10, 11 and 12 students had gathered at the basketball courts on that day to protest against the principal and to request the ministry to attend to their grievances, when the fighting broke out. Why discipline at the school degenerated to street level, thuggery remains murky. But allegations against the principal, has been coming in hard and fast from the students, teachers, past pupils, parents and sundry others. Efforts to meet the principal for her side of the story, proved futile, when after a long wait outside her office on Thursday, the Sunday Observer was informed that she had gone on leave. Earlier we were told that she had gone for a TV interview and would be back shortly. The school has also been made out of bounds for outsiders, and put under the watchful eye of a private security firm. Former Major of the Sri Lanka Army, Yasad Amarasinghe who now serves as the Managing Director of a private security firm that provides the security coverage for the school said that several minor incidents had taken place prior to the September 9 fracas, and claimed that he had kept the Secretary, Ministry of Education informed about all the incidents and disputes. "But nothing happened. They waited till the last moment to take any action", he said, charging that the lethargic attitude of the officials of the Education Ministry in taking firm action to resolve the issue had resulted in the shameful incident. "If the principal is wrong there is a proper way to lodge protests by informing the Education Ministry officials, he said. In his opinion it was not correct for the students to stage protest against the principal. Not ordering the students to get back to their classes, was also questionable action on the part of the deputy principals, he said. " This is a national school, a girls' school at that so we have to think above discipline and security, said Yasad, who's sister is also a past pupil of the school. He denied allegations that the students had been assaulted by the security personnel. A spokesman for the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) confirmed that seven OL students of the school had come with their parents on September 12, to formally lodge complains that they had been assaulted on September 9 at a school protest. "We have also received some complaints through faxes", said the spokesman, explaining that according to the statements the students had been attacked by the principal, several teachers and some outsiders. "There was a girl who complained of a fractured arm due to the attack", he said, adding that further investigations are being conducted by the Bambalapitiya police and NCPA will go through its video evidence next week. A Deputy Principal of the school, who did not wish to be identified said that students have protested against the transfer of several teachers. According to her there are 140 teachers and 3,800 students. The principal is alleged to have initiated the transfer of 16 teachers. In July a petition signed by 104 teachers against the principal had been handed over to the Public Service Commission. School authorities also said that the school canteen, security and other administrative functions had been changed and replaced with new persons after the principal took over in January. Bambalapitiya Police sources told the" Sunday Observer" that they obtained a statement from the principal last Thursday and was conducting further investigations. Meanwhile, sources at the Ministry of Education said that the National Schools Director P.H.P. Geeganage has appointed a five member committee comprising five ministry officials to inquire into the matter with a view to take disciplinary action against those who are responsible for the incident. |
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