http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=60980881
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=60980881
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| Miracle Ministries school closed Ministry, board in stand-off over principal By PHOOLO DANNY-MAHARAJ South Bureau Saturday, February 12th 2005 |
UP TO LATE yesterday there was a stand-off between the Ministry of Education and the board of Miracle Ministries over the resumption of classes at the board's Pentecostal High School, Chaguanas. The Ministry has ordered Miracle Ministries board chairman Pastor Winston Cuffie to reopen the school on Monday. But the board was said to be standing its ground that the school will not reopen as long as Omar Ali is the principal, the Express learned. Up to late yesterday ministry officials and Cuffie were meeting in Port of Spain. Ali was not at the meetings. The ministry, through Permanent Secretary Angela Jack, on Thursday ordered Cuffie to have the school opened on Monday. In a strongly worded letter, she made it clear the school was government-assisted and under the Education Act he did not have the power to shut the school down or fire the principal. Letters to the ministry from the board to remove Ali have been sent to the Teaching Service Commission "for consideration", Jack said. The school, which is fully air-conditioned, was opened in 2001. There are 300 pupils and, apart from the principal, there are 16 teachers and three administrative staffers, all paid by the ministry. Ali and the teachers were told by Cuffie two weeks ago that the school would be closed until further notice. The ministry was currently putting the finishing touches on another Miracle Ministries School in Central but it was not clear how that would be affected by the latest developments. Yesterday Ali, a former vice-principal of Hillview College, and with more than 30 years in the teaching profession, said his main concern was the pupils who have to write CXC examinations next month. "I do not wish that they suffer because of the actions of the board." More than 100 pupils are preparing for the examination. Ali said: "I am very concerned for the members of staff and pupils who have to write examinations. This action of the board to close down the school could spoil a good learning atmosphere and demotivate staff." The Express was told that the main issue behind the board's decision to remove Ali as principal of the Pentecostal school was because, he was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses church. Ali said he never pretended to be a Pentecostal. A member of the church yesterday admitted that Ali's faith was "one of the main reasons for wanting to remove Ali". Ali said he would continue to report for duty at the Ministry of Education's Couva offices until the issue is resolved. Cuffie remained out of reach of the Express yesterday. Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Clyde Permel said yesterday that the board "has no authority to dismiss the principal or any teachers. The teaching staff are hired by the Teaching Service Commission, and only the TSC can fire them. The board must be able to let due process take its course." |