Some 85 aggrieved parents of Christ The King School, Accra have petitioned the school’s Board of Directors to intervene in an impasse between them and the headmistress of the school Veronica Laryea.
The parents, in the petition, complained about Ms Laryea’s “mismanagement of the school and dictatorship.”
The petition, dated 25th June 2018 and sighted by DAILY GUIDE, was said to be in line with Article 12 of the School’s Rules and Regulations which aims to foster cordial relationship between the school and parents.
According to the petition, “The headmistress has a hostile relationship with parents, and is consistently disrespectful to them.”
“She does not communicate effectively with parents and notices and directives are sent abruptly with no consultation with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).”
The parents added that “subsequent clarification sought by parents is vehemently ignored by the headmistress.”
The parents are peeved over the fact that the KG’s washroom renovation levy was not well accounted for to parents who paid GHC500 and more.
However, there has been no clarification and transparency on how disbursement of the money was made.”
“There was an unprecedented situation when the headmistress stood outside to aggressively indulge in exchange of words with a parent, who wanted clarification on the issue to an extent that she encouraged her driver to use the word ‘Kwasia’ on the parent. She didn’t stop her driver, and this is demeaning of the school’s values and standards.”
They argued “that this attitude of hers has created fear among the pupils and some parents as well.”
“As Catholics, we hold our doctrine in high esteem, however same cannot be said of her, as she refuses to show compassion to the kids, hence they are always afraid to go to her with their problems.”
According to the petition, “On one occasion, a Class 2 Pupil had to leave the school in search of her mother at 5pm because in her own words she was afraid to wait in the school for her mother because of Ms Laryea.”
Reaction
However, when DAILY GUIDE visited the school to get a response from Ms Laryea, she and Father Andrew Campbell, Christ The King Church’s Parish, referred the paper to the chairman of the school’s Board, Justice Dennis Adjei of the Appeals Court.
They told the paper that they had been instructed by the Board not to speak to the media over the issue.
However, efforts to reach Justice Adjei proved futile.
By Melvin Tarlue