XN000022-1978-09-12 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1978

POLICE AND ICAC CONFIRM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FINDINGS

ON SCHOOL PROBE *****

THE POLICE AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THAT NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD OR CORRUPTION WAS FOUND IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AT THE ST. BONAVENTURE COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN TSZ WAN SHAN,

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A COPY OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S REPORT, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES HAD BEEN SENT TO THE POLICE AND THE ICAC ON JULY 20 FOR INFORMATION AND COMMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, DID NOT INTEND TO RELEASE THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT BECAUSE IT INCLUDED MATTERS RAISED IN CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH SCHOOL STAFF.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT, IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IT HAD BEEN DECIDED TO MAKE KNOWN THE FOLLOWING FACTS AND FINDINGS.

NEARLY ALL THE LETTERS OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AND PURPORTING TO COME FROM +STUDENTS OF ST. BONA- VENTURE HIGH SCHOOL+ WERE ANONYMOUS AND SENT VIA ICAC, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE AREA INSPECTORATE AND THE ACCOUNTS SECTION, VISITED THE SCHOOL ON FIVE OCCASIONS - ON MAY 23, JUNE 2, 5, 16 AND 26. THE REASON FOR SO MANY VISITS WAS THAT NO SOONER HAD SOME COMPLAINTS BEEN MADE THAN OTHER COMPLAINTS CAME TO LIGHT.

TO MAKE THE INVESTIGATION AS THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE, ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING STAFF WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTERVIEWED INDIVIDUALLY ALONG WITH A RANDOM SAMPLE OF PUPILS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF THE TUCKSHOP. IN ADDITION, ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND JANITOR STAFF, EXCEPT FOR TWO PART-TIME WORKERS, WERE INTERVIEWED. OF THE 20 TEACHERS AND 15 STUDENTS INTERVIEWED, THERE WERE FEW COMPLAINTS OF SUBSTANCE. TWO OR THREE TEACHERS COMPLAINED OF WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE HIGH-HANDED METHODS OF THE SUPERVISOR/PRINCIPAL IN ENFORCING STRICT DISCIPLINE AMONG THE STAFF, AND ONE TEACHER FELT THE STAFF WERE INHIBITED FROM MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS AT STAFF MEETINGS ANOTHER FELT THAT HELPING WITH THE TUCKSHOP SHOULD NOT BE AN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY AND SOME STUDENTS FELT THE PRINCIPAL WAS TOO STRICT OVER LONG HAIR. ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME STAFF SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPAL IN HIS FIRM DISCIPLINARY APPROACH ONE SPOKE OF THE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS IN THE SCHOOL AND OTHERS OF THE GOOD SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE TUCKSHOP.

/THE SPOKESHAN