TEACHERS at the all-boys St George's College in Kingston have denied that their opposition against the female principal to be appointed for the new school year was gender-based, but that their discontent was based on the selection process.

The teachers said they believe there was a level of unfairness in the selection as two senior staff members were discouraged from applying for the job.

"We have two female vice-principals who both have master's degrees. This lady only has a (first) degree," said a senior teacher, who requested anonymity.

According to the teachers, they were first led to believe that the person to be appointed was a female principal at a primary school in Kingston. "When we heard that name we were very happy because we know her track record and how she had turned around that school," said one teacher.

"Some of the parents because they don't know the real issue they are looking at the female issue but we do not have an issue with her gender," added the teacher.

Two weeks ago at an emergency meeting with the St George's parents, outgoing principal Dr Fred Kennedy said he could not comment on the principal to be appointed as the process had not yet been completed by the Ministry of Education.

He, however, made reference to a document which he said had been leaked that contains pertinent information on the candidate.

The Observer has since received a copy of the document which said, among other things, that the candidate has eight years' experience in the field of education, including three years as a senior teacher and head of mathematics at a high school in Kingston.

The document also said that she is of a solid Catholic family. "Grandfather, father, brother and son (current) were educated at St George's. (She is) knowledgeable of and committed to implementing Jesuit educational values at George's," the document said.

Meanwhile, teachers who spoke with the Observer, and who all requested anonymity for fear of sanctions, questioned the school's reason for running the advertisement in the newspaper for a new principal on only one Sunday only.
"If you want the best of the best, don't put the ad to run for one Sunday," one teacher said.

"You want the best principal, and in all of Jamaica you close the application at five applicants?" they asked.
They also claimed that there was a conflict of interest as the candidate sits on the school board, which is the group responsible for the interviewing of candidates.
".How can she interview persons for the job she wants for herself?" asked a teacher.

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