The appointment of a male principle to the female section of an Indian school in Dammam has prompted parents to file a complaint to the Ministry of Education (MOE). The parents of students at the International Indian School in Dammam (IISD) are claiming that the appointment is both inappropriate and a violation of the school rules, in addition to an abuse of power. Lt. Col. J.A. Rocque was hired by the IISD eight months ago as head of the male section and has not completed the mandatory probationary period, according to a statement released by the IISD. The complaint, filed to the Supervisor of Foreign Schools at the MOE, Mubarak Bubshait, stipulated that the committee making the decision was illegal since it had overstayed its term. “The new appointment (of Rocque) as principal in-charge of the Girls Section is redundant because the managing committee has no authority to make such key appointments since this committee's term expired on June 9 and they are surviving only on a care-taker status,” said Mohammed Faisal, one of the parents filing the complaint. Chairman of the IISD Mumthaz Ali Khan said the decision was made before the managing committee's term had expired and was therefore valid. “The decision made by managing committee to appoint (Rocque) as principal in charge of the girls section was taken June 7, two days before our term expired and the decision was approved by the higher board of studies,” Khan said. “We interviewed Colonel Rocque from Delhi promising him a post as Principal, since there was no vacancy, when he arrived in Kingdom we appointed him as vice principal for the boys section. He was promoted as Principal in Charge of Girls section. He will only be the head of Girls Section school and he has to report to E.K. Mohammed Shaffe (Principal of the IISD). This type of new post is already available in IIS Riyadh in order to control and improve school performance.” Khan said the decision was made to improve the school and he said he hopes the staff and parents will accept it. __
