NONGSTOIN: St Dominic RCLP School at Siejlieh here is closed for a week now after parents, in an unprecedented show of solidarity, stopped sending their children following the headmaster’s decision to sack a teacher.
The parents that The Shillong Times spoke to alleged that Linda Mary Iawphniaw was removed without any reason. Iawphniaw, who was removed last December, joined the school on October 19, 2004.
When this correspondent visited the school on Tuesday, there were only 10-12 students. St Dominic has over 100 pupils.
Latatina Kharbani, a parent, said she sends her five children to the school because it has good teachers like Linda Mary.
“She has given 12 years of service and motivated students and taught them in the right way. So every parent has the right to defend her,” Kharbani said.
She added that the guardians will not accept the unreasonable decision of the headmaster and continue their boycott till the management agrees to reinstate Iawphniaw.
The school was set up and run by the Pyndengrei Parish. But after the Parish handed over the responsibilities to St Francis D’ Assisi, the management has come under political influence.
“If the decision (to sack the teacher) was on the basis of eligibility, then Miss Linda holds a degree and is fit to teach. The headmaster, however, has only Class XII certificate,” Kharbani said.
When asked why the popular teacher was sacked, the management said there was no vacant post and it was going through financial crisis making it difficult for the school to pay teachers’ salaries.
But several parents rejected the claim. “Miss Linda joined in 2004 whereas many others joined in 2010 because the enrolment was increasing. So how could they terminate the service of a teacher who served for so many years,” said one of the parents on condition of anonymity.
Iawphniaw said she joined the school at a crucial time of her life. “My mother was seriously ill and Brother Herman, who was the head at that time, accepted my application,” she reminisced.
When asked about the school management’s move, Iawphniaw said she would not rest till the management reinstates her or gives the reason for her termination.
“I love my job as a teacher and I rendered my service as a mother. But in December 2016, I was told by Headmaster Onesimus Nongsiej that I have been terminated and I will no longer teach here,” she said.
Iawphniaw then appealed to the management but her appeal was rejected. Later, the headmaster offered her Rs 30,000 for hushing up the incident but the teacher refused and demanded her job back.
