Home | To bottom

Pangasinan High School principal called to step down

POZORRUBIO, Pangasinan (Dec. 9) — Four students from Benigno V. Aldana National High School (BVANHS) has led a mass of students calling for the ouster of their principal, Dr. Alfredo Calugay.

On Wednesday, senior students including those from other year levels staged a 5-hour indignation rally at the school quadrangle. The group is tossing allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of authority and corruption to the principal.

Dr. Imelda Navarro indefinitely replaced Dr. Calugay who was reportedly on-leave as directed by Department of Education (DepEd), Division II.

Identified “student-organizers” are Efren Arsebar, Jonard Corpuz, Bernadette Gramata and Belinda Licuanan.

In 2003,the same group who were junior students then filed a petition to replace their adviser, Mrs. Teresita Ramos for “occasional bad mouthing”and embarrassing students. A Memorandum of Agreement was forged between the students and Dr. Calugay. But this wasn’t implemented until after a year, the group said.

The same act by the principal was also observed during flag ceremonies, they added. Corpuz said, “We are taught about good moral character but they themselves showcase attitudes which we cannot allow anymore”.

The group complained about the recent intramurals which was cut short to a day. Even the annual Junior-Seniors Promenade was prohibited, according to the group.

Gramata who participated in the National Open Tournament for table tennis said a supposedly team delegation will come from BVANHS but the principal withdrew his approval in the last minute. The principal instead told them to resort to soliciation, Gramata added.

The student-organizers were reportedly harassed by teachers and were threatened not to graduate in March. Corpuz who is 22 years old and overstaying said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Navarro said, “I was installed here to respond and pacify the issue. Gathering data and knowing the grievances of the students were the initial course of action”.

In a dialogue on Thursday, Navarro encouraged the ‘student-organizers’ to suspend a sustaining rally by the students. She said however, “The administration just let the students plan for them”.

Twenty-five students boycotted their classes during the dialogue in support of their organizers.

Jose Q. Nabor, a member of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Board of Directors criticized the act branding it as “activism”. He said the students’ dissent might be fanned by “left-leaning organizations outside the school”.

The students denied they were influenced by outside groups. They said “We foresee a bigger mobilization might erupt should the harassments continue and our clamors be ignored”. # Jong de la Cruz for NORDIS

Home | Back to top