Unhappy people at that ASJA school

I have been moved to write this letter because I just cannot take it anymore. I am a relative of a member of the teaching staff in addition to having relatives presently attending ASJA Girls’ College in San Fernando. The wrong person is being targeted here. Patricia Mohammed has given nothing short of her best to the students of this college over the past few years. She goes above and beyond her job specification to ensure optimal performance from her students. To see what is being played out in the media just hurts my heart.

Many incidents of this nature have occurred over the past few years, without investigation. Teachers making a hasty exit because of issues at the school include S Baksh, daughter of the present Minister of Community De- velopment; G Ramnarine, a language teacher who gave her heart and soul to the students but was treated unfairly; S Yusuff-Ali, a science teacher, and J Ragobar, mathematics teacher, among others, including the original staff of the school’s library, clerical and cleaning staff.  

A handyman suffered a massive stroke after a severe tongue-lashing that nobody deserves. Transfers have previously been re- quested from the Home Econo-mics Department and the Physical Education Department, and by the laboratory assistant and the ICT technician. OJTs have also left, due to extreme control—they have been instructed not to mingle with the older staff and to sit at their work stations. The students themselves see how unhappy the teachers are. Ministry of Education, please investigate why so many people are unhappy.  To Jamil Hassan, president of the Parent Enhancement Association, stand up for the truth. To Yacoob Ali, president of the ASJA board, Allah is watching you.

Alima Ali
Via e-mail