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This rude Education official needs to be investigated

Jun 17, 2012 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
I sincerely would like to bring to the attention of the Ministry of Education, as well as the Regional Education Officer of Region Number 8 of the actions of a senior Education Officer for Sub-region Number One.
The incident occurred during a pre-graduation exercise held on the 12th of June 2012 at Paramakatoi Secondary School.
The incident occurred because a teacher who was supposed to chair the programme was unable to do so due to a sore throat which was pretty obvious to the hearing public. This teacher had informed her senior mistress in absence of the Head teacher in the morning and also had chosen a replacement who agreed to chair the program. Keep in mind that this teacher was only told to be the chairperson the day before. This is what followed: the official stood up and loudly announced that there was a delay because of this teacher’s refusal to chair the programme even when the replacement MC was already in her place. When the teacher stood up to explain her circumstances and introduce her replacement, the official continued on with her rant, and accused the teacher of being disrespectful and belligerently refused to stop until the teacher agrees to chair the programme.
I believe her actions were totally uncalled for, seeing that the graduation ceremony was a school ceremony and she was a special guest. It was obvious that she had a personal grudge against this teacher and proceeded to use her power as education officer to embarrass and humiliate the teacher in front of the public.
Imagine the shock of the public at the unprofessional conduct of an official and more so the teacher who was clearly hurt, emotionally and professionally. As one of the member of the audience, I was absolutely embarrassed by this show of complete unprofessionalism.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one. There are many other demonstrations of unprofessionalism by this officer. In many public meetings, I have heard that teachers were yelled at, embarrassed without a chance to defend themselves.  This is an officer who claims that she was given permission to work from home, even though her office is about five minutes away on foot.
She complains about teachers’ tardiness, but she herself goes to her office after nine am and leaves well before the lunch hour. The same officer tells everybody in a meeting to imagine that her house and her office are ten miles away. Clearly, the public outburst at a pre-graduation ceremony that was meant to celebrate the form five students’ achievements was a show of total unprofessionalism. Insulting a teacher’s integrity in public, when she was not given a chance to defend herself – this is tyranny!
I have also heard that this official was sent to the region because of disciplinary reasons. Is this fair to Region 8 to have to endure an official who is unprofessional, who refuses to take responsibilities of her action and who abuses her power?
I wonder why this incident was taken out of proportions when a couple of weeks before, the dorms did not receive their food rations, and CSEC papers did not come in time.
Obviously, the public didn’t hear much about that! I hope that the Ministry of Education and the Administration of Region 8 will look into this matter. The graduation incident, if I may, is the straw that broke the camel’s back, and we the people of Paramakatoi Village will not stand for this kind of conduct.
Stan Marks

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