A SMK Lutong PTA representative hands over a copy of the appeal letter to Ting (right). With them is SUPP Pujut Branch chairman Adam Yii.
MIRI: Parents, teachers and students of SMK Lutong are upset with the unexpected transfer of the school’s principal, Marcus Hugo, to SMK Merbau effective tomorrow.
The abrupt move has prompted the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) to submit a Letter of Appeal to the Ministry of Education in Kuala Lumpur and to the Education Department in Kuching to have Marcus remain as SMK Lutong’s principal until his retirement.
Marcus has planned to retire early — in December next year.
Meanwhile, SUPP secretary-general, Datuk Sebastian Ting, said he was also concerned about the matter and hoped the transfer had nothing to do with the case involving student Sabrina Ngumbang last March.
Two SMK Lutong teachers had allegedly tried to convert the 13-year-old schoolgirl to Islam, and the issue grabbed the attention of the media then.
Ting, who is also SUPP Piasau chairman, said Marcus was an exemplary educator, and when he (Ting) first heard about the transfer, he was very disturbed by the news.
“My thought immediately flashed back to Sabrina’s conversion incident. I hope the transfer is not a retaliation of sorts in relation to that case.
“People here would like to believe that Sarawak’s education authority would not resort to this type of illogical and unfair action,” said Ting in a press statement released on Sunday.
Ting said many people, including parents of SMK Lutong students, perceived that the transfer was tied to Sabrina’s conversion case.
“Everyone strongly believes the perception is real.
“For the record, Marcus has an excellent track record in the education field.
“ He has overseen the rise of educational standards in SMK Lutong. In addition, the school has received many awards under his leadership.”
Ting also described the transfer as “unwise and unfair”, especially since Marcus had planned for early retirement in December next year.
In any case, the transfer timing was awful as public examinations such as PT3, SPM and STPM were only a few months away; hence, unnerving parents and students.
Ting said he would pursue this matter vigorously with the higher authority as it was an important matter.
“I strongly believe that Sarawak should regain authority over its own education system. This incident shows that the federal education authority must not manage our educational matters by ‘remote-control’.
“We, in Sarawak, understand our issues better, and by that extension, we can manage our own education policies better.”