Don't sweep SMK Limbanak issue under carpet: Ambrose
Published on: Friday, May 06, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The Education Department should be sensitive towards the grouses of parents of SMK Limbanak students who are against the new principal, said Penampang Umno Chief, Datuk John Ambrose. "There must be a reason why parents are not happy, even to the extent of erecting a banner. Parents' voices must be heard and any misunderstanding should be explained to them properly through the Parents-Teachers Association," he said, Thursday.
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Ambrose, who is in Be'kalalan campaigning for Barisan Nasional, said he will try help solve the matter by meeting the parties concerned to get a clearer picture soon.Ambrose said he would want to know why parents are against the new principal and whether the claims that several good senior teachers from the school was due for transfer to SMK Bahang."I very much understand that parents would want the best teachers for their children and their worry should not be brushed aside," he said, adding that parents should remain calm. Ambrose was commenting on a Daily Express report where it was learnt the matter had been simmering for quite some time but became prominent when a banner was erected at the arch entering Kg Limbanak and Kg Kituau in Penampang, alleging that the principal was creating "chaos" at the school. It has since gone viral in social media.
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One Facebook user claimed several good senior teachers from the school were due for transfer to SMK Bahang in mid-April under the term of the previous State Education Director, but was put on hold after some protests. However, the transfers would now take effect in November.
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Ambrose said he was also curious to the claims that all the teachers who had been transferred then and now had been non-Muslims."It may be just a coincidence or is there something else that we don't know. I will have to find out and hopefully and amicable solution can be worked out so that the students' studies will not be affected by this unnecessary distractions," he said.Ambrose said the Education Department Director will also have to explain as to why there is an excess of teachers in SMK Limbanak and as such the need to transfer some of them out."Have the number of students gone down and the number of classes also being reduced and thus, having an access of teachers. If it was properly explained, I do not think parents will want to waste their time protesting."Transfers are normal in whatever professions. I believes no one will take the trouble to protest if it was done in good faith," he said, adding that he also understand the concern of parents who do not want their children's studies to be disrupted by the sudden transfer of the teachers. "A new teacher may take time to know the strengths and weaknesses of the students, thus wasting time and students' studies affected," he said. Ambrose said he will meet with members of SMK Limbanak Parents-Teachers Association as well as the District Education Officer and principal to get a clearer picture."This problem should not be swept under the carpet. It should be solved fast so that parents' confidence in the school will remain intact and students can study with a peace of mind," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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