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SPM crisis - from bad to worse

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The crisis situation at St. Paul's Girl's School in Colombo deepened when the school's principal and some 'parents' inside the school premises  assaulted several students on Thursday (11).

While some parents and teachers earlier took to the streets  to protest against what they called the principal's "unprincipled behaviour," the upper school students last week stepped out of classrooms to protest against the principal and the alleged lethargy of the Education Ministry in taking action to resolve the crisis.

Students of grades 10, 11 and 12 of St. Paul's Girl's School, Milagiriya gathered at the school basketball courts on Tuesday (9) to protest against the principal and to request the Ministry to attend to their grievances. Speaking to The Sunday Leader, some students said that they had no option but to take their battle to the streets urging action against the principal.

"Since the Ministry has been turning a blind eye towards our school we decided to take some action on our own."

They said that while they gathered in front of the school office building on Tuesday (9), some "unwanted" people who were not parents were hovering inside the school premises.

"When we asked them who they were, they said they were security guards. We asked for their ID cards and the response was that the IDs were left at the security counter, adding that we had no right to  question them," the students said.

They further complained that according to their knowledge, these 'security personnel' were thugs. "Some of these people and the principal took photographs of us protesting," they claimed, adding that all their attempts to get a responsible officer from the Ministry to come there were useless.

"We are no longer able to trust our principal, the Ministry and even the police who simply watched while we got assaulted," they charged.

According to some O/L students of St. Paul's, the principal has refused to sign their postal ID cards, as they were not part of the 'pro' group.

In another instance, when students were called for interviews to select senior prefects, the questions asked by them were whether they supported the principal and how they plan to win over the students against her.

Meanwhile, some of the teachers have been transferred out, with the Ministry insisting that the transfers were not connecte to the ongoing drama.

The students also allege that the principal is trying to create a communal problem in the school, something that has never happened in the school's history of 116 years.

At the same time, some parents alleged that the principal has manipulated matters in order to get her henchmen in to the School Development Society (SDS). "People who were not parents attended the SDS AGM this year," they alleged.

In the meantime, some parents from the 'pro' fraction stood outside the gate on Thursday (11) to show their solidarity with the principal. They were of the view that the OGA had instigated the children to step out of their classes, a charge denied by the students and the OGA. According to these parents the principal has brought discipline to the school. 

However, the situation at the school turned from bad to worse when several students were assaulted on Thursday during a protest campaign in the school premises. They that the principal and some 'parents' assaulted them in full view of the police who did nothing to bring the situation under control.

Some of the student victims said that there was no protection inside their own school premises as the principal has got men inside the school to handle them. One student said that she was pushed against a car and assaulted by persons claiming to be parents while other groups attacked other students.

The principal too has assaulted several students by allegedly clutching one girl by her neck and pushing her to a van while also assaulting the deputy head prefect of the school. The Sunday Leader is in possession of several affidavits signed by students who were assaulted by the principal and men claiming to be parents.

"When the school finished at 2 p.m., teachers told us not to leave from the main gate as there were thugs standing outside," students said.

SPM Principal, W. S. Ranasingha refused to speak to The Sunday Leader saying that the last time she spoke her comment was not carried.

She said that she was not willing to "waste any more time," and proposed that Director, National Schools, P. T. H. P. Geeganage should be contacted for further comment. The Sunday Leader witnessed fisticuffs between parents outside the main school gate on Thursday. Men were seen screaming in filth and were throwing their weight about while the helpless mothers could only cover their ears.

Education Minister Karunasena Kodithuwakku said that Director, National Schools, Geeganage was attending to the matter and that the situation was now under control. The Minister added that Geeganage has assured the students that an inquiry will be held and to maintain order.

"As for transfers, it is happening in all the schools - some schools have excess staff while some do not have any teachers for certain subjects. "The transfers are not decided by Geeganage alone. They are processed through the Transfer Board and all the trade union leaders attend the meetings," the Minister said.

According to the students, the Ministry officials were harsh when they spoke to them. Students have complained of being psychologically traumatised, as the officials have allegedly said that they could not care less. Geeganage was not available for comment.

Meanwhile the students who were assaulted made a complaint to the IGP and he has ordered ASP Wickremasinghe from the Bambalapitiya police to hold an inqury into the matter. According to the police, they have been unaware of what was going on inside the school as those at the gates have said things were under control, when the students were being assaulted.

Three students were treated at the Kalubowila Hospital and were inspected by the GMO. On Friday (12), police constables stood outside the gates while the school was in progress.

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