Baldwin Girls school staff stage protest, seek principal's resignation

The staff of Baldwin Girls School protested on Thursday in front of the institute’s chairman, Bishop N L Karkare’s residence, demanding the resignation of the school’s principal.

The protest was triggered by an incident on Wednesday in which a teacher collapsed in the principal’s office of after a stroke.

“Some teachers were called to the principal’s office and she was demanding an explanation  why they had not stayed back in school on Saturday to complete data entry work. She made them stand for a long time and this teacher, who has health issues, collapsed. She is in the ICU now because she had a minor stroke,” one teacher explained.

The incident has stoked the growing anger of the staff against the principal, who has taken over the post only two months ago.

“For the past two months, we are being asked to stay back to complete data entry work. We have been teaching in the school for several years but we have never had to do any such clerical work. It is usually outsourced to a company. Now, we are being forced to skip classes and even stay back for this, ” another teacher said.

They even complained that the principal never spoke to the teachers with respect. She referred to them by the colour of their clothes instead of addressing them by name, they said.

The staff gathered in front of the residence of Bishop Karkare and demanded the principal’s resignation.

“First they said that they would ask the principal to resign. If she refuses, they will conduct an inquiry. But we were not satisfied with the response.

“Later, they told us that she would be asked to step down tomorrow,” a staff member said.

Staffers said that they have been having issues with the management and the Bishop. They say that many changes are being introduced and being forced upon the staff.

Teachers said that if the promise is not kept on Friday, they would protest again.

Retired DGP and former MP H T Sangliana has pledged his support to the teachers and is expected to meet them on Friday, a staff member said.