Sha chatted with me on MSN all the way from Greece! i feel very guilty cos we were talking abt r/ship and she say her poly bestf got engaged didn't tell. i didn't tell her abt the boyf too!! haha. sorry babe, faster come back SG then we meet up :D
Jason texted to say he's going back to M'sia for the holidays already. i suddenly feel bad cos i told him i'd organise a gathering before he leaves but i didn't
have time to do it ):
oh and my alma mater is in trouble!
Thu, May 13, 2010
The New Paper
By Bryna Sim
THE principal of one of Singapore’s top 50 secondary schools was a hit with his students – but unpopular with some of his teachers.
The friction between teachers and principal has led to allegations of bullying, corruption, coercion and fraud.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is looking into the case. And the principal has been relieved of his post.
“The former principal has been given a new assignment in the MOE HQ in the interim,” said an MOE spokesman.
The allegations against him by staff are still being investigated. The charges were discussed in a closed-door session with teachers last Tuesday afternoon.
Teachers were also told that the principal was being investigated for “fraud, corruption, bullying and coercion”.
The superintendent of East Zone Cluster 1 chaired the meeting and made the announcement.
Schools in Singapore fall within zones and clusters, and each cluster is handled by a superintendent.
The school’s students have not been told the news because they are having their exams.
The New Paper is not naming the school or the principal because investigations are still on.
For now, some students have been told by their teachers that their principal “will be away for a period of time” as he is “attending a campaign”.
The principal had been head of the school since December 2006. Before assuming his post at the school in the east, he was vice-principal of another secondary school, in the north. He was a science teacher at a top girls’ school earlier.
Accolades and praises
He has won several accolades and praise in his years as an educator. But his management style seems to have rubbed some the wrong way. Five teachers told The New Paper of their difficult working relationship with him.
But none of them would elaborate on allegations of his being corrupt or fraudulent.
A teacher,who wished to remain anonymous, called the principal a “big bully” who was always “shouting and screaming at staff members”.
The teacher claimed the principal often talked down to staff and would belittle them.
It didn’t matter if they were administrative staff or a head of department (HOD).
The situation became so bad that some angry HODs asked for transfers out of the school last year.
Some administrative staff also resigned after working for only six months. They, too, complained of his unreasonable behaviour.
Two former teachers of the school contacted by The New Paper said the principal was not an easy person to work with. They left the school last year.
Said one of them: “The principal is the main reason why I left the school. He was harsh, unreasonable, and hadno qualms shouting at us.”
The principal, said the former teachers, was often “very condescending” towards them.
The teachers claimed they were also not comfortable with some tasks they had to carry out. This could have led to suspicions of fraud or corruption.
It is not certain how the situation resulted in the principal’s re-deployment, but some teachers are glad to see him leave the school.
One teacher told The New Paper: “He has done so many things to so many people that everyone wants a piece of him.”
Different picture
But some students painted a different picture.
A Secondary 3 student said the principal was “a very nice cheerful man, the best principal a student could ever get”.
“He was always joking around with the students and rarely looked angry,” he said.
Another said the principal was “serious when it comes to work, but a fun man when it comes to play”.
Both students were unaware that their principal was no longer with the school.
Said the student: “Our teacher told us that he would be away from the school for a period of time, as he was attending a campaign.”
What the principal is doing now is unclear.
When The New Paper called the school, the receptionist said the principal was “no longer with them” and “would not be coming back” as he had been “posted out”.
The New Paper tried contacting him at home yesterday but a family member, who declined to be named, said he was at work. She declined to say if he was with the Education Ministry.
Working normal hours
“He’s working normal office hours and he’s doing a project,” she said with her voice trailing off.
She dismissed the allegations against the principal as “rumours” and looked shocked when this reporter said the principal had been called “a bully”.
“I guess everyone has his share of enemies. People can say what they want,” she said.
She added that, based on her observations, the principal was “well and happy”.
Calls to the principal’s residence later yesterday went unanswered.
well i guess you do reap what you sow. let this be a lesson for the students. i don't dare to comment more just in case i get into trouble or something. haha!
anyway, i got this from a forum so don't quote me! don't know how reliable this is:
"Students were told he would be replaced by Madam Judina Chua, the former principal of Montfort Junior School, who would take over the school's leadership on June 2 after she returns from her studies in the United States".
