ASJA students back principal
By LOUIS B HOMER
South Bureau

TRAFFIC came to a standstill yesterday afternoon on Todd Street, San Fernando, when scores of children attending ASJA Girls’ College called on security guards to open the gates and allow their principal in.

Shouts of “open the gates” echoed for some distance causing many commuters to stop in front of the school to see what was taking place.

The show of solidarity by the pupils for their principal came as Farial Muradali-Ali approached the gate leading to the school compound. In spite of her pleas to the guards, she was denied entry.

One of the guards told Muradali- Ali: “We have instructions not to allow the principal and officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) into the school compound.”

For 15 minutes the principal stood in the rain but the guards did not budge.

It was the second time for the day that she was denied entry. She had reported for duty around 7.30 a.m. and was refused entry then.

She was blocked last Thursday and Friday from entering the school on the orders of the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association Board of Education. Under police guard she eventually entered the school on Monday with Trevor Oliver, president of TTUTA.

Muradali-Ali was accompanied yesterday by Karan Mahabirsingh, Industrial Relations Officer of TTUTA. Mahabirsingh said TTUTA yesterday met Education Minister Hazel Manning who asked that both parties begin mediation immediately.

Yacoob Ali, President of the ASJA board said he had not received any communication from the ministry and Muradali-Ali “ ill not be allowed into the school”.

Mahabirsingh said 37 teachers had reported for duty yesterday but classes were not conducted because of the ongoing impasse.

He said scores of pupils have now been directly affected by the impasse because the principal has not been allowed into the school to sign the forms which will allow them to enter Forms Five and Six.

Several parents told the Express that if the matter was not settled soon they would approach Prime Minister Patrick Manning to have it settled.

“Our children are suffering and he must do something, especially as we are in election time,” said one parent.

Muradali- Ali said she plans to return to the school today at 7.30 a.m.