We will find you

On Monday, a group of teachers led by TTUTA president Lynsley Doodhai, protested outside the school’s gates calling for the principal to be temporarily removed pending an investigation into certain allegations. As this went on, some students threw bottles at the protesting teachers after forming an anti-protest group, beating drums and waving placards in support of the principal Joy Arjoon-Singh.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia and senior ministry officials yesterday held an emergency meeting with the principal and members of staff to begin investigations into the incident. A group of about ten police officers were present at the school for the duration of the visit at Garcia’s request.

In an address to the students in their hall after the meeting, Francis said while he believes in their right to free speech, he also believes they should act like students and show respect for their teachers.

“What happened yesterday, we will investigate,” Francis said.

“We will find out who is responsible and we will take the appropriate measures to deal with those who have misbehaved.” Francis told students they are fortunate to live in a country where the State funds their education which, he said, is “absolutely expensive”.

“We do not ask much of you.

We ask that you come and you act like a student and that you learn.

But we also ask that you display a certain amount of decorum as a student and when you fail to behave like that - well, then there are consequences.” Garcia told students although he was disturbed by media reports of their behaviour on Monday, he did not visit the school to cast blame.

“I have also taught at a junior secondary school just like this so I can safely say that I know schools like these very well. I have been boasting that some of my best years of teaching were spent when I taught at Five Rivers Junior Secondary School,” Garcia said.

Before addressing the students, Garcia spoke with reporters just after he met school officials and staff. He said an independent investigator would be appointed to investigate Monday’s incident and the underlying issues at the school. He said teachers raised a number of issues they are facing at the school, but he declined to disclose what those issues are because they are “quite sensitive.” “We have engaged the assistance of our legal department to advise us as to whether the actions of teachers who took part in the protest action were calculated to bring the school into disrepute.

I await the advice of our legal department before we move forward.” As to TTUTA’s request to have the principal temporarily removed while investigations are ongoing, Garcia said such a move constitutes disciplinary action which can only be taken by the Teaching Service Commission.