Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

Senior education officer at the Ministry of Education Office, Region Four, Devon Ruddock, attempts to calm an angry parent at Maldon High School, in St. James, yesterday. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Disgruntled members of the Maldon High School parent-teacher association (PTA) yesterday took their protest action to the Ministry of Education's Region Four office as they continued to lobby for the reinstatement of principal Derrick Wilson.

Wilson, who was appointed provisional principal when he joined the staff two years ago, was recently sacked by the Ministry of Education for his alleged failure to meet the criteria for his position.

Protests

Irate parents and residents of the community, unhappy with the action taken against Mr. Wilson, have staged at least two protests at the school since last week.

Last Thursday, after orientation was disrupted, the Ministry of Education took control of the school, providing a temporary calm. But this was again lost yesterday morning when parents arrived for a PTA meeting which was postponed until Thursday.

Citing that the ministry was not aware that there was a meeting scheduled for Monday, senior education officer at Region four, Devon Ruddock, urged the parents to put their children first and exhibit some patience.

"We at the ministry are trying to facilitate the process to bring back stability to the institution," he said. "It is a two-way thing (and) you are a major part of it, so we have to cooperate ..." he pleaded.

Although pledging the ministry's commitment to restore stability, Mr. Ruddock was hesitant to respond when parents asked whether Mr. Wilson would be present at the meeting.

Parents angry

Not satisfied with the response, several parents then took their cause to the Region Four office, in Montego Bay.

Said one irate parent: "We still want fi hear what them going to do with Mr. Wilson because them decide to keep a meeting and them going to say that the principal not going to be at the meeting, so we want to know what is going on."

After learning that the ministry would not speak on the matter because of a court injunction, the parents then called for the removal of acting principal Irvin Atkinson.

However, citing that he has never applied for the position of principal, Mr. Atkinson, who has acted in the position from 2002-2004, said the current disturbance has nothing to do with him.