By RESHMA BAAL Saturday, February 4 2012

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Sita Gajadharsingh-Nanga...

PRINCIPAL of the Tunapuana Hindu Primary School Sita Gajadharsingh-Nanga has been granted a transfer to a Government primary school. Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Minster of Education Dr Tim Gopeesingh revealed he has been advised that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has acceded to Gajadharsingh-Nanga’s request for a transfer.

The decision to grant her request was finalised by the TSC on Thursday, and Minister Gopeesingh promised to reveal more on this matter at a later date.

The troubling impasse involving the principal has been ongoing for several months, with allegations of racism and misconduct being made by the principal, the Parent Teachers’ Association and the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), prompting investigations by the Education Ministry and the TSC.

Gajadharsingh-Nanga first made a request for a transfer on June 17 to the TSC after having several disagreements with secretary general of the SDMS Sat Maharaj. An agreement brokered by Minister Gopeesingh on November 21 in which there was an understanding that Gajadharsingh-Nanga would return to the school on the condition that she would be transferred to a new school.

The Minister announced then that a school supervisor III would be assigned to ensure Gajadharsingh-Nanga returns and runs the school satisfactorily in association with the SDMS Board. As part of the agreement, Gopeesingh said Maharaj assured he would do “all within his power to encourage the parents of the school to accept and facilitate this agreement.”

However, TTUTA’s general secretary, Peter Wilson yesterday accused the SDMS of making things difficult for Gajadharsingh-Nanga at the school.

“The board has hired its own security detail at the school. Those officers are not cooperating with the principal. They insist at 3.30 pm she has to leave the compound. She also does not have access to certain areas within the school. Event the cleaning and teaching staff are not taking instructions from the principal. They say they take their instructions from the board,” Wilson said. He accused the SDMS of acting in “contravention” of the agreement which was signed earlier.

“We have raised the matter with the Education Ministry and Minister Gopeesingh. However, it appears the Minister is not ready to take the board to task,” Wilson said.

When contacted by Newsday yesterday, Maharaj revealed he had received no news of Gajadharsingh’s transfer and denied Wilson’s allegations that the organisation was acting in contravention of the signed agreement.

“According to the agreement any decision made must be done by all parties who were signatures to the agreement. She cannot do anything without the permission of the board. The SDMS also has the right to protect its property and that’s what we are doing,” Maharaj said.