By Vishani Ragobeer

MEMBERS of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), other concerned parents and teachers of the Rama Krishna Primary School yesterday held a small protest against the school’s headmistress for alleged mismanagement.Mr. Gary Foo, president of the recently established PTA, spoke to this newspaper, giving us an insight into the situation.

He noted that prior to February 12, when election of the current team of office bearers was held, the school was run by what he called “a non-functioning and unconstitutionally appointed” PTA appointed by the headmistress, Melanie Cornette, and comprising close friends and relatives.

Foo is alleging that at this February 12, election Cornette told him that she will not be supporting the new body, because she was not in favour of the appointment of Ms. Shonette Charles as treasurer and Ms. Marcia Velloza as assistant secretary/treasurer, for personal reasons.

Foo said that as president, he did not comply with her demands, one of which was that he replaced Charles and Velloza, as he felt that what she was asking was unconstitutional.

BREACH OF REGULATIONS
As such, when the PTA held its first committee meeting, the headmistress did not attend, as was expected of her, being its vice-president, and in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s regulations.

Foo said he formally invited her to the meeting, well before it was due to be held, but she did not attend it, even though she was on the school’s premises.

He said he went to her office after the meeting to discuss the matters that had arisen at the meeting, and to inform her of a few proposals that were being put forward, but, in the presence of past committee members, she verbally abused him.

OTHER CONCERNS
Concerned parents and PTA committee members at this protest outside the school also highlighted other issues of concern, such as the headmistress not allowing them to enter the school without being supervised, which, according to Foo, is tantamount to being treated like a prisoner.

The PTA group has also accused the headmistress of reopening the school’s canteen, which was decommissioned by the Ministry of Health due to insanitary conditions, and of making false reports to the police about parents abusing their children among other allegations.

They said that several attempts to bring the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Education have proved futile; they stated that they even have copies of the letters they sent the Minster of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, as well as the Principal Education Officer, Immanuel Bridgewater dated March 1, 2016 and March 2, 2016 respectively.

Teachers were not able to be present at this protest, as end of term examinations are in progress; however, one teacher, who asked not to be named for fear of being victimised, told this newspaper that many children have been victimized because their parents spoke out against the headmistress, who tends to favour some teachers more than others.

Attempts to make contact with the head teacher by this newspaper proved futile as the gate to the school was locked with a chain and padlock. The guard was sent to contact the head teacher, while members of this newspaper were locked outside the school. She however refused to meet without a permission slip from the Ministry of Education.

Parents say that if some disaster such as a fire, was to happen, this locking of the gate would present many problems to their children’s safety.