TNAG-0799-FCO40-1003-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 100

27

(b)

(c)

The decision to close the School was arrived

at in a meeting between senior officers of

the Education Department and the School's

Management Committee, on the afternoon of

12th May

1978 and based mainly on events

that occurred since 7th May. Assessment of

these events were made, understandably, in

isolation of and detached from developments

dating back to February 1977, of which a

historical perspective we now have had the

benefit of being able to obtain. Although

the decision was reviewed on the morning of

13th May 1978, there was no concrete evidence

to satisfy the Acting Director of Education

that normal school life could resume on the

days that followed.

The possibility of closing the School for only

a relatively short period, during which

attempts could be made to restore normality,

was minimal in view of the clear and firm

decision of the Precious Blood Congregation

to relinguish sponsorship of the School. This possibility was further reduced by the

imminent announcement of the new arrangements

for the take-over by the Catholic Mission and

the impending end of the school year.

(d) In the absence of an adequate appreciation of the development of events the Education Department had missed the opportunity to

play a mediatory role in this unfortunate

affair. By mid-June 1977, it had lost its

neutral stand and the Director of Education

was placed in the position of having to

/maintain