A private school has been closed because of the rippling effects of a sex scandal and the accusation against its director of ordering the execution style killing of her husband.The sex scandal is engaging the attention of the police and because of the controversies surrounding the school there was a large dropping out of students from the school which has eventually led to bankruptcy. Consequently, the Academy of Professional Studies is now closed.
Yesterday, the Guyana Chronicle received word that the school was being closed and its director was making attempts to flee the country, however, the director of the school, Patricia Senasie contacted this newspaper to clear the air. She said that while the school is closing she is not fleeing the country.
An employee of the school when contacted said that while the school is closing it had nothing to do with the recent drama involving its Director of Studies, Patricia Senasie, who was held by the police for questioning in connection with an execution attempt on her husband.
The employee said that closing down of the school was due to the sex scandal which the school found itself in when reporters revealed that a male teacher at the school had sex with his 14-year old student, who is a British born citizen.
This newspaper was told that after the reports of the sexual intercourse between the teacher and the student got back to the ears of parents, several of them began taking their children out of the school, while others asked their parents to have them transferred.
However, Senasie in contradicting the claims by her employee maintained that while the dropping out part of the story is factual, the reason for the dropping out was not because of the sex scandal, but rather her issue with her husband.
It was reported that the school which had a population of almost 100 students on its register saw that number constantly dropping and up to the time the school decided to close its doors, there were only 16 students who were still attending the institution.
The Chronicle was informed that, initially, it was the female students who were being taken out of the school and then male students began following suit.
The employee at the school who told this publication about the sex scandal being the reason for the shutdown, also, indicated that the school has already made arrangements with the examinations division at the Education Ministry to have the CSEC students catered for in the upcoming examination.
It was related that those students who are expected to sit their examinations within the next two months will be afforded their timetables and candidate numbers by contacting the examination division in the Queens College compound.
Contacted yesterday, Director of Examinations of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Sadya Kadir confirmed that the school did indicate that it was closing its doors and that it was ensuring that the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) students are taken care of. She added that the school also indicated to her that they will be sending over the required documents along with past certificates for students so that those can be handled by the Ministry of Education.
In February, a 14-year old student claimed that she was asked by her 21-year old teacher to have sex with her which she agreed to. The child told this newspaper that after having sex with the teacher on two occasions she was given contraceptives, since the sex she and the teacher had were unprotected.
That matter is engaging the attention of the police and the Child Care and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.