JEDDAH, 4 June — The much-talked about contract of Vice Principal Shams Mirza, of the International Indian School, Jeddah (IISJ), girls’ section, has been renewed for two years. The previous contract was due to expire on June 12.

As per the old contract, she was getting SR. 5,000 per month basic salary, three months’ salary as housing allowance and tickets for her children.

In the new contract, her salary has been fixed at SR. 4,500. She will not be getting any housing allowance or tickets for her children. More importantly, her contract has been renewed not as vice principal but as vice principal/headmistress VI to VIII block. The new contract which has no relation whatsoever with her previous contract was given to her on June 1 which she signed yesterday. A lot of controversy was generated on this account inside as well as outside the school when school Director Brig. Iqbal Siddiqui issued the new contract to the vice principal to sign before the expiry of the old contract on June 12.

A section of the media misreported that her contract was terminated and she was fired, but the fact was that she was simply asked to sign a new contract before the expiry of the old one. During the controversy, a group of teachers pleaded her case to the director and asked why she was fired.

They were told that she was not fired but simply asked to sign a new contract, according to sources close to the school. The sources said that she deliberately misled the teachers and students of the school and the whole community as well "by lying that she had been terminated."

Informed sources believe that the vice principal was getting a higher salary, and housing allowance and tickets for her children against the prescribed CBSE norms and local regulations, since her husband is also working in Jeddah and is availing of all such benefits from his sponsor.

As per the IISJ rules, women employees cannot be paid HRA and other benefits when their husbands are employed in the Kingdom. But the managing committee had signed a contract with Mrs. Mirza when she was hired giving her all these benefits. Interestingly, no other female employee of the school is getting HRA in a similar situation. It is also pointed out that there is no post of vice principal in CBSE schools. There are also allegations that she is unqualified and not experienced enough to be the head of a higher secondary section of a school Some of her baiters say she is simply a graduate and B.Ed with not sufficient experience in the administration, hence not eligible for the post.

In such a situation, they say, whatever has been offered to her even in the new contract is more than what she deserves.

But at the other hand there are people who relentlessly campaigned in the vice principal’s favor. They are of the opinion if she was given a higher salary and perks then she is not to be blamed for that. The decision was taken by the managing committee so why should she be victimized for that. Secondly, her supporters say that whether she is qualified for the post or not, should have been decided before her appointment, not after she has completed two years of service. They also say that she is quite popular among the students.

There are claims and counterclaims for and against Mrs. Mirza which have made things complicated. But one thing is sure — as per the new contract, her position has been downgraded with ample scope for further changes in future. This will certainly create a new controversy.

By the way the managing committee which is the cause of all these controversies is on its way out. People are skeptical of their decisions and wonder whether they are in a position to take decisions with far reaching consequences