Teachers and parents want the head of Annai Secondary School HM

Annai Secondary School staff and parents whose children attend the school want Headteacher
Ms. Sharmaine David immediately removed.
David is widely viewed as an impediment to the growth of students and a roadblock to the
development of teachers of the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) interior location
school.
“We have a very serious problem here at Annai Secondary, it is our main educational institution
in Annai with students from the satellite villages and around the community attending. The
issues with the Head teacher and her staff have reached boiling point and several of the teachers
are determined and firm that they no longer want to work with her (head teacher) anymore,”
Bertie Xavier, Regional Vice Chairman of the Region Nine Regional Democratic Council (RDC)
revealed.

Xavier said there he has received an avalanche of complaints about David’s toxic presence at the
secondary institution from senior school administrators and interested community members.
As a consequence, several staff are demanding transfers and others prefer to quit that put up any
longer with David’s unhealthy presence.
“We can’t have teachers seeking transfer and or leaving simply because of the administrative
issues of the school. Some of the issues that teachers are raising I know them very well as while I
taught at this school, I encountered several myself and I can tell you it is very frustrating when a
teacher is determined to contribute positively but isn’t getting the support or assistance that they
are seeking,” Xavier said.
He still believes though that there is a place for the embattled HM in the local learning system
and reasoned that transferring her to another school may be the best option since the staff at
Annai are no longer willing to support her.
“She was an HM appointed for a Grade ‘C’ school but now that the school has been upgraded to
Grade ‘B’ she should be transferred. However, I was recently informed that she applied to fill the
position at this school as the Grade B headteacher. In my mind I think that the Deputy
headmistress, Ms. John would be the best person to head the school considering the difficulties

and challenges currently being faced and the fact that the other teachers are ready and prepared
to lend their support to her,” Xavier argued
He said HM David’s autocratic style and lack of trust have helped alienate staff.
“The DHM has been over time seeking to give support but the HM is not willing to accept
support and this is what is helping in deteriorating the relationship among her and other staff
members further. You can’t want lead…and not depend on those placed around you for support.”
Xavier said Annai residents too have had enough of David’s deficiencies and want her removed
noting that the Education Ministry will have to act soon to avert worsening an already delicate
situation.
“It’s evident what we have a major situation here that needs urgent attention. While I will allow
the Education Department to address this matter I am not going to sit by and see the teachers,
students and members of the community being unhappy over the actions of someone. We have to
put educational development first and any hinderance to this must be removed,” he emphasised.
Davis’s “greatest fear is that we may end up not having enough teachers at the school
considering that many teachers are fed up and really want to move on. I can relate to it because at
one time I was in a similar position so I know what these teachers are experiencing and the
educational growth must continue.”
Attempts to reach the HM for comments proved futile.