JEDDAH, 3 August 2003 — Parents and teachers of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) want their warring officials to step aside and allow for an election of a new Board of Trustees.

“It’s our turn!” the parents and teachers echoed one another as they asserted their rights during a “consultation meeting” at the IPSJ on Gornatah St. on Thursday.

They went on to suggest that an election be scheduled on Aug. 22, subject to the approval of the Philippine government and the Saudi Ministry of Education to make the exercise binding to everyone.

“If the concerned authorities don’t listen to either of the group of Rodriguez or Hernandez, then let’s give it a try if the voices of parents deserves the MOE’s attention and approval,” parent Josie Gabieres was quoted as saying. “We have nothing to lose by trying.”

Presided over by Edris Tamano, the meeting also proposed that the presidents of the Parents-Teachers Group or PTG in all levels be made to act as caretaker of the school pending the election of a new board.

Tamano, the president of 4th year high school’s PTG, stressed that the group of parents calling itself the “Interim Board,” has no legal personality to run the school because it did not pass thru the proper election process sanctioned by the MOE.”

The Interim Board is headed by engineer Fidel Hernandez, which seized power late last year from the group of accountant Efren Rodriguez amid charges of financial irregularities and overstaying.

Although the Philippine government supported the takeover, it withdrew its support later after the Saudi MOE warned in April that it would close the IPSJ unless the Rodriguez board is reinstated and the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah stops interfering in the affairs of the school.

In June, Usop had a falling out with the Hernandez group and he dismissed them from managing the school. Last week, however, the Hernandez group returned to “reassert” their rights as parents in governing the school.

Arab News learned that the MOE has not yet renewed the IPSJ’s license, which expired at the end of June, saying that its directive should be implemented first.

Because of the leadership stalemate, the parents took it upon themselves on Thursday to decide that the members of the warring “boards” submit themselves to the will of the majority by not opposing an election.

Consul General Kadatuan Usop, in a speech at the opening of the meeting, supported the call even as he said he recognized the important role of the “Interim Board” during those difficult times last October when parents have to seize control from the old BOT.

However, he said, “what happened in that October 2002 assembly did not pass the proper election process to be duly recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Education. I fervently hope that this consultation meeting of the parents, being the rightful owner of the school, come up with a solid proposition to solve this issue once and for all,” he said.

In a phone interview, Hernandez said his group was not against an election but “it should be done in a proper way.”

He said his group also did not agree to the suggestion that PTG presidents be allowed to govern in place of the “Interim Board” pending the election of a new board.“There was nothing final in that meeting,” he said, adding that his group will have to sit down and discuss the holding of an election with the PTG presidents.

“If they could prove that Aug. 22 is a feasible date, we will go for it,” he said.

Hernandez said there are plenty of factors to be considered. He said the sanction of “concerned authorities” should also have to be secured first “so that we won’t all be left holding an empty bag.”

Asked what he meant by “concerned authorities,” he mentioned the Philippine government and the Saudi MOE.