THE 112-year-old Calabar High School has welcomed its first female principal.

Despite opposition from the Calabar Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the Calabar Old Boys’ Association (COBA), the Board of Governors of the school on Wednesday announced that acting-principal Sian Mahay Wilson has been appointed principal, effective July 1, 2024.

Wilson served as a senior vice-principal at Calabar for eight years before temporarily taking the top job following the resignation of Albert Corcho last August.

But in a letter to the board, COBA and the PTA indicated that were unwilling to work with Wilson in the capacity of principal.

There were also suggestions that the two groups could take legal action to block the appointment.

But in release yesterday over the signature of its chairman, the Reverend Karl Henlin, the board said: “With almost three decades as teacher and administrator, Miss Wilson’s loyalty to the school and her commitment to educating young minds along with an unquestioned passion for her profession, makes her particularly suitable for this assignment.”

It added: “After a quite rigorous selection process, she emerged as the candidate most suited to lead our school at this time. We expect that with a collective approach and a commitment to team work, she will lead in re-energizing the Calabar brand through improved academic outcomes, no doubt enabled by her passion for personalized, inclusive and innovative learning.

“The Board of Governors congratulates Miss Wilson on her appointment and expresses its confidence that, working together with staff, parents, old boys [far and wide], our school is on a good pathway to reach new heights,” added Henlin.