But union says suspending promotion for errant principals ‘absurd’

KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) agreed with the proposal that disciplinary action should be taken against principals who fail to report A (H1N1) cases in their schools, but not to the extent of suspending promotions.

Its president William Ghani Bina said the proposal was appropriate because schools hiding such cases would be making the situation more difficult.

“The move is appropriate for a principal who knows that his school has a case of A (H1N1)) but fails to report it or not closing his school,” he said yesterday.

Ghani, however, disagreed with the proposal to suspend the promotions of the errant principals.

Ghani was responding to a Bernama report quoting Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Tiong that school principals who failed to monitor and identify health status of teachers and students following the A (H1N1) outbreak would be subjected to disciplinary action including suspension from any promotions.

Ghani said suspension would be “a bit too much”.

“They (principals) are not doctors or experts. They can only give practical advice. The move to suspend them from any promotions if they fail to monitor students’ health is ridiculous and absurd,” he pointed out.

“Even so, the move is not appropriate because the outbreak can happen anywhere… not only in schools,” he added.

Ghani said he believed harsh penalties on the principals would pressure them even to the extent of neglecting their duties.

“Principals should always remind the students to practice cleanliness, and to advice them and teachers to go see a doctor immediately if they get sick,” he said.