BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Principal of White River Community High School, Hampton Bekepio, denies allegations contained in a petition seeking his removal from office, describing the claims as personally motivated and not reflective of the wider school community.
His response follows reports that his school is among five schools under the Honiara City Council to receive petition letters calling for the removal of their principals.
In the case of White River Community High School, the petition reportedly carries 156 signatories.
The petition, cited by Island Sun, outlines several allegations against Bekepio, including poor leadership resulting in low academic performance, failure to organise Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings over the past eight years, mismanagement of school funds, lack of school development projects, and weak discipline among teachers and students.
It also raises concerns about rental entitlements for senior staff.
According to figures stated in the petition, the principal’s rental entitlement at Level 10.1/11 is $5,900, while the deputy principal at Level 9.1/10 receives $3,900. The Form Six and Seven coordinator at Level 9.1/10 is listed at $3,500, the careers master at Level 8/9 at $2,500, and the chaplain at Level 7/8 at $1,500.
This entitlement is supposed to received by the principal, his deputy principal and the school careers master excluding the Form Six and Seven coordinator and the chaplain.
The petition was emailed to several senior officials, including the Chief Education Officer and Principal Education Officer of Honiara City Council, Education Provider, the City Clerk, the Lord Mayor, the Councillor for Tasahe/White River Ward, the West Honiara Constituency Development Officer, the Ombudsman, the Leadership Code Commission, Director TSD, and Mr Bekepio.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, Bekepio rejected the allegations, saying the issues raised had previously been addressed and settled with police involvement.
He said that all financial and development decisions at the school are made collectively by the school board and not by him alone.
“Our focus now is to move forward, leave our differences behind, and continue driving the school’s development goals,” he said.
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