JEDDAH, 3 November — A ranking Ministry of Education (MOE) official yesterday said the term of the present Board of Trustees of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) remains valid and parents should deal only with them.
Mansour Ghazali, director of foreign education in the Makkah Region, advised those aspiring for a seat in the Board to have patience for an election is being arranged.
“Until such time that a new Board is elected, the existing BOT is still active and should not just be dismissed by any person, whoever he is,” he told Arab News in a telephone interview.
Ghazali made the announcement amid a bid by a group of parents to take over control of the oldest and biggest Philippine overseas school.
It was learned that the group led by Parent-Teachers Council (PTC) president Fidel Hernandez came to the school at about 7:30 a.m. yesterday and told the guards and administrative officials that they were now in charge. Unknown to them, the Board of Trustees (BOT) chaired by Efren Rodriguez were with the office of Ghazali for a meeting.
Witnesses told Arab News that while Hernandez and his group were issuing instructions, the school principal — Dr. Reinita Respicio — called Rodriguez to seek guidance.
Upon learning of what was going on, Director Ghazali got Rodriguez’s cell phone and asked the principal to give hers to Hernandez.
Ghazali then reportedly gave Hernandez a tongue-lashing, telling him that what he and his supporters did was a violation of Saudi laws.
He also instructed Hernandez and his fellow “new” trustees to come to the MOE at 10 a.m. yesterday but they never came. When Ghazali visited the IPSJ before noontime, Hernandez and his team were gone.
Respect for authority
In an earlier interview with Arab News, Hernandez and company said they were taking charge of the school on the basis of a mandate given them by a general assembly of parents on Oct. 11 and that Consul General Kadatuan P.Usop, Philippine head of mission in Jedddah, administered the oath of office to them on Oct. 29.
In a letter to Director General Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al-Howaimel on Oct. 30, they also claimed that the assembly abolished the Rodriguez-led BOT.
In the phone interview with Arab News later yesterday, Ghazali said the MOE does not recognize such kind of takeover because there are rules and regulations that have to be followed. He did not mention talk about his conversation with Hernandez but he said he wanted to make it clear to all concerned that the MOE is the only agency charged with supervising foreign schools in the Kingdom, and that consulates of foreign governments have no authority to interfere.
“There should be no interference from anyone. If the Philippine Consulate has questions on this regard, it should direct such questions to the MOE,” he said.
“And please tell the parents at IPSJ to respect the existing BOT and whoever comes to power in the future in a valid manner. Tell them not to worry because we are working on the election schedule,” he said.
Ghazali admitted that scheduling of elections in community schools is a long-winded process but it should not be an excuse for anyone to just come out and seize power.
General assembly
Ghazali said he has instructed the BOT to arrange an assembly of parents two weeks from now so that he will come and explain the election process. “If the Philippine Consulate wants to send a representative, they are welcome to do so,” he said.
He said he will entertain questions during the meeting but he wants parents who have questions to write these in a slip of paper and present it to the moderator to avoid duplications and to ensure order.
He also said their target is the period after the Ramadan season, and that should be early next year.
“We want to ensure that the election does not disrupt the examinations of students, and that it will be at a time convenient for both the MOE and parents,” he said.
Any parent can aspire for a seat provided he or she passes all the criteria that have been set, he explained.
As a minimum requirement, an aspirant should have a child enrolled at IPSJ, should be a holder of a bachelor’s degree and should have a “no objection certificate” or NOC from his or her sponsor.
But Ghazali advised aspirants who may qualify under the above criteria to make sure that they have not been involved in any “violent act” or have not been the subject of a criminal or civil complaint or case, in the Kingdom or in the Philippines.
“We want them to know that because even after the election results are announced, we will conduct a background check on the winners to make sure that only the ones with unassailable reputation and credibility awould be installed to run the school,” he said. “The final decision is the MOE’s. Anybody who tries to misrepresent himself, or who has been involved in any violation of the rules, would be held accountable.”
Transparency, accountability
Asked about the complaints raised by parents such as the alleged refusal of the Board of Trustees to come up with a financial statement of the school, nepotism, mismanagement, misuse of funds, among others, Ghazali said he has called on Rodriguez and his team to answer the charges.
He said he has also instructed the Board members to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability, not just in words but in deed.
Ghazali said a formal complaint could also be addressed to the office of the director general Howaimel.
“We will not go easy on any violators or those who abusers their power because this (IPSJ) is an institution of learning and as such should be a model...,” he said.
