JEDDAH, 2 April 2004 — As two members of the managing committee of the Indian International School-Jeddah (IISJ) resigned yesterday, the outgoing director denied that he had refused to quit at the end of his term on Wednesday.
Brig. Iqbal Siddiqui also said he had nothing to do with the violent showdown at the school on Wednesday and denied that he locked himself into his office while commotion broke out on the premises between supporters of two groups of the school’s managing committee. “I was moving about and trying to calm the situation. But unfortunately things went out of control and took an ugly turn.”
Siddiqui told Arab News that Wednesday’s incidents at the school, which ended after police intervened, were triggered by “external elements and a handful of school staff.”
He described the incidents as “unfortunate and very hurtful.”
“I always wanted a dignified departure because I had given my best for the school for over five years. It is unfortunate that the incidents brought disrepute to the school and the community at large.”
Following the handover of charge by Siddiqui on Wednesday night, a meeting was held in the girls’ section of the school in Aziziah district between the remaining MC members and headmasters and headmistresses yesterday afternoon.
MC Chairman Dr. Yousuf Khan Jaweed introduced incoming Director E.K. Shafi, currently the acting principal. Dr. Jaweed sought the cooperation of all teachers in enhancing the academic standards of the school.
The managing committee has reversed the former director’s orders to his wife, Farheen Siddiqui, to continue in her position as headmistress of the lower primary girls section, a committee member said. She had resigned a month ago and was also on her last working day at the school on March 31. But the outgoing director had issued an order asking her to continue in her position.
As a fallout of Wednesday’s high drama, MC members M. Shanmugham and Sharief Kunju resigned yesterday.
In his resignation letter to the Indian ambassador, Shanmugham charged that he was repeatedly manhandled by unnamed persons at the school on Wednesday.
Sharief Kunju said he was quitting because Wednesday’s incidents “ruined the sanctity of the school.”
Shanmugham and Kinju’s resignation leaves the committee with three of its original had eight members. Two members had quit earlier citing disenchantment with the way the committee functioned.
