Former Al Worood principal unable to leave UAE following school closure

The former principal of Al Worood Academy Private School, which was ordered to close following the death of a student last year, said he is 'shackled' here because the school has yet to pay its fine to the courts.

The school was ordered to close this year but the principal, cleared of wrongdoing, still cannot leave the UAE. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // The former principal of Al Worood Academy Private School, which was ordered to close following the death of a three-year -old pupil last year, said he is “shackled” here because the school has yet to pay its fine to the courts.

Al Worood Academy was ordered by the Abu Dhabi Education Council to close at the end of the 2014-2015 academic year, and a judge fined the school Dh150,000 after the little girl died of heat exhaustion inside a locked school bus in October.

When contacted by The National, Adec said the school had not yet been ordered to pay the amount.

“Adec has appointed a committee to oversee the school from operational and financial perspectives. Until now this committee hasn’t receive any final verdict from the court to pay any amount on behalf of the school,” Adec said.

Roderick Williams, the school’s principal, was one of five people charged in connection with the death. The negligence charge against him was dropped in May, clearing him of culpability. The school’s bus driver, bus supervisor and bus company owner each received reduced sentences of imprisonment and fines. A school administrator was also given a suspended three-year sentence.

Despite being cleared of the charge against him, Mr Williams said his South African passport was being held by the courts until the school paid the fine or the case closes.

“I can’t even go for an interview for another job because my residency is in my passport,” said Mr Williams, who moved to the UAE in 2012 to work as principal of Al Worood.

“The school has been fined and until the school has paid the fine, they will hold on to my passport. It’s as simple as that. Actually, if the school gives them a letter of undertaking guaranteeing they will pay the fine, they provide that to the courts, then they will release my passport. However, failing that I’ll have to wait until the court case is finished and then I can move on with my life.”

Dr Muna Al Ansari, president of Al Worood, said the school was unable to pay the fine because its accounts have been in possession of Adec since the education regulator took over administration of the school last year.

“The file is with Adec, all the accounts are with Adec. How can the school pay? They [Adec] must pay. They had our money from day one. Why they didn’t pay?” Dr Al Ansari said. “They have the accounts, why didn’t they pay so this guy, the principal, can go out? This is unfair to let people suffer more.”

Mr Williams said he received his last salary payment in June and had no other source of income. He and his wife have continued to live in the company housing, but will have to vacate the premises at the end of August when his contract officially comes to an end.

“That is my next question. Have they now reduced a highly qualified, a highly dignified professional to the status of almost a beggar, because where will I get money to buy food and the necessary stuff?” said Mr Williams, 62, who has had a 35-year career in education. “I’m still in the company accommodation until August 31. Thereafter, I’ll probably be out on a limb, so I don’t know what’s going to happen to me personally.”

The school employed about 220 workers, and most have found jobs elsewhere in the city or repatriated.

The school, which opened in 1982, was one of the oldest in the emirate and home to about 2,000 pupils from kindergarten to Grade 12. Although its website is still live – including a link to a list of private schools with pupil vacancies for the upcoming academic year – the school itself is vacant and will not reopen, according to a worker at the school.

Dr Al Ansari said she did not know what would become of the 33-year-old building.

“Until last night, I got messages from the parents that they still don’t have schools. I cannot do anything for them,” Dr Al Ansari said. “Myself, I pray for everybody. We pray for the girl, we make for her Umrah in Mecca, I sent people for this and this is our relation with God. But the story it is miserable. Really.”