Parents want principal out

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Photo of the banner calling for the transfer of SMK Limbanak principal which went viral.

Photo of the banner calling for the transfer of SMK Limbanak principal which went viral.

KOTA KINABALU: Parents have called for the removal of the principal of SMK Limbanak after she transferred several teachers.

They yesterday put up a banner at the archway along the road leading to Kampung Limbanak near the Penampang secondary school with a message asking for the transfer of its principal. It was removed later in the day.

The words on the banner read: “We the parents of students of SMK Limbanak want the principal removed as she caused chaos and destroyed the school’s excellent track record.”

Photos of the banner were widely circulated over social media.

State education exco Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun yesterday said acting state education department director Maimunah Suhaibul had started an investigation into the matter.

Masidi, who is also the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, added the department would issue a statement on the matter “if and when necessary”.

Penampang member of parliament Darrel Leiking urged concerned parties, district education officer and representatives from the State Education Department to hold a dialogue to resolve the issue.

Through the dialogue, he said all involved could air their feelings and grouses.

Darrel, who is from Kampung Limbanak, said this when met at the Kadazan Society Sabah Hongtog Kaamatan 2016 celebration here yesterday.

“I must stress here that what I know about the case is what was related to me by the families and some PTA members,” he said, adding that he was informed that the issue with the principal started last year with the transfer of two teachers from SMK Limbanak.

Then recently, the principal was alleged to have initiated the transfer of another three Form Five teachers.

“Three were supposed to be transferred but only two received their letters. One still pending. The reason for the transfer was that the school is over staffed. We do not know if at the end of the day, there will be a replacement (for these teachers).

“But it does not make sense (that) three teachers will be transferred as the Form Five students are halfway through their studies and will be sitting for their examination in about seven months’ time.

“We can’t allow the students to be victimized … maybe there are some students who can accept this but there may be those who cannot. The school’s Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) has come to a stage where they want her to be removed.

“This is the PTA’s demand and I was told that they have written in their request to the Education Minister and the state education director since last year. They even had a petition on the issue of getting the principal transferred which was signed by the villagers and parents in the area,” he disclosed.

Darrel added: “To me the solution is this, if there is such a serious problem with the principal, hold a dialogue with the district education officer, the education director and those with vested interest at the school so that the concerned families can air their grouses and feelings.

“Legally we must also listen to her; she must have her own story. She should be given a chance speak but if there is such a feeling of animosity there, I am sure it will be difficult for her to do so,” he pointed out.

Darrel added that Moyog assemblyman Terrence Siambun and his team would be making an appointment to see the district education officer today to discuss the matter and try to get it resolved.

The school’s PTA chairman, Isidore Lojiwa, said they were leaving the matter to be resolved by the department.

SMK Limbanak is one of four secondary schools in Penampang district. It has about 1,500 students with more than 100 teachers.