Sydney Coptic schools; pride or shame...

Sydney Coptic Schools are featured on "Encyclopedia of Coptic History" http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_7272.htm under the heading

"The buildings of the Coptic Schools in Sydney Australia are shame to its Coptic people"

مبانى المدارس القبطية فى سيدنى بأستراليا إهانة لشعبها القبطى

The site is reporting two of the Coptic schools in Sydney as similar to those in Sudan or Africa!!

How the Australian Government is allowing such disgrace to continue?!

Parents request

a government appointed administrator

to insure government grants (Tax Payers' money) are actually spent according to the covenants of educational grants.

Serious numbers… Not peanuts…

SMC financial statements 2004 - 2007

To put things in perspective, what sort of money are we talking about??!!

These figures are public record from the school Annual Reports published by law (in compliance with NSW Education Act 1990) on the school website http://www.stmarkscollege.com/arep.php. 2008 School Annual Report is due in almost two weeks.

School income:
2004: $5,169 2005: $5,267
2006: $5,175 2007: $5,585
Average annual income for the last four years is $5.3 million.

Govt. grants (State & Federal):
2004: $3,794 2005: $3,867
2006: $3,751 2007: $4,084
Average annual Govt. grants for the last four years is $3.87 million.

Government Grants form approximately 73% of the school annual budget.

Who at the college is qualified to run an institution with annual budget over $5 million??!!

The answer to this question will explain the financial and managerial mess that SMC is currently in!!!

Has anybody thought of hiring the services of a business manager as is the case at other reputable schools??!!

Deacon Timion investigated... evidence no. (2)

Deacon Timion reiterated the following allegations on so many occasions.

أنا حققت فى الموضوع، ولقيت إن المطرانية سـحبت فلوس تلات مرات من المدرسـة!!! وإن البورد القديم بعت جواب وقال بطلوا تسـحبوا فلوس!!!ا

"I investigated the issue, I found that the Diocese has withdrawn money from the school on three occasions!!! The former school board has sent a letter saying stop withdrawing money!!!?"

He confirmed the same during the "highly confidential" meeting on 28/12/2008 which was leaked to the press and sent by emails before its ink dried. (please refer to the meeting minutes published on our previous post "No smoke without fire… evidence no. (1)", p2 paragraph 3)

Is there any one still in doubt that government grants getting siphoned from the school??!!

Deacon Timion made serious allegations that ought to be examined by the relevant Govt. Agencies.

NB. Deacon Timion is a highly credible source given his senior positions in the Diocese and in a strategic Australian company.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

What about this unprovoked live appearance of "Hany" on Orbit TV popular program Cairo Today "Elkahira Elyoum"...
Deacon Timion is spreading the word utilizing all available media, printed press, internet, emails and TV too!! Very busy bee indeed!!

No smoke without fire… evidence no. (1)

Original document

Full English translation

We would like to present to the Australian Authorities the first evidence of the alleged financial inappropriateness at SMC. Thanks to Mr Amir Hanna “Deacon Timion”, the General Superintendent and Vice Chairman of Sunday School of the Diocese, Lecturer at Pope Shenouda III Theological College, and member of the Steering Committee, (it doesn’t get any better than that). Mr Hanna released the minutes of his meeting with the Vicar General of the Diocese Fr Tadros Samaan on 30th December 2008, which was attended by:

• Dr Medhat Guirgis, Secretary of the General Advisory Board (phone conference),
  
• Mr Fayez Hanania, Member of the Steering Committee (phone conference),
  
• Mr Michael Atteya, Principal of St Mary and St Mina’s Coptic College,
  
• Five prominent priests from the Diocese and others.
  

The minutes of the “Highly Confidential” meeting was published by the Arabic newspaper Egypt News “Akhbar Masr” after it was distributed widely to the Coptic congregation (not much of confidentiality, hey!!).

Mr Hanna declared very clearly the following;

• “The financial Grant for St Mark’s College gets siphoned to the Diocese’s account and returned to the school to benefit from the interest.” (page 2, 3rd point).

• “Insistence of the Bishop on forming central system for the schools mainly for the purpose of saving money and controlling over management of the schools, principals and directors and control over the money.” (page 2, 5th point).

• “In the Core Group meeting, the main goal is for the Diocese to earn $200 per each student.” (page2, 6th point).

• Mr Michael Atteya: "Financial interference in St Mary’s College and leaking of financial documents to the press and others.” (page 2).

We would like to highlight the following:

• Mr Hanna made his revelations from position of authority and with certainty.
  
• His statement was backed up by the principal of St Mary’s College Mr Atteya.
  
• There was not a single objection from Dr Guirgis, Mr Hanania or anyone of the attendees.
  
• The alleged financial inappropriateness is in breach of the grants' covenants, not to mention it starves the school of financial benefit (interest).
  
• The document was agreed upon and signed by (8) attendees and witnessed by (5) priests without signing. All those people can not be wrong.
  
• We are in Australia, if they do not already know it, why are they communicating in Arabic?!!

PS. Of course we can not confirm the return of the money to the school bank account in full!!

These are very serious allegations of financial corruption involve Government Grants declared by one of the most senior people in the Diocese. Therefore, we call upon The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to investigate this document, its contents and interrogate all attendees.

Also, for the long term benefit of our school and the future of our children, we encourage any one with information to contact DEEWR by clicking on their logo below, by using this link http://www.deewr.gov.au/ or by contacting their Investigation Branch on (02) 9246 0649. You can remain anonymous.

Please DO NOT reinvent the wheel!!!

An interview with Sister Samiha Ragheb (a Catholic Nun), Director of St Joseph School in Egypt, on Egyptian TV.

No comments ...

Sister Samiha-part 1

Sister Samiha-part 2

Sorry the video is in Arabic.

... “If we want a better society and a better world, schools have a big role. Schools, parents and teachers; these three circles are very important to be cooperating together.” Sister Samiha Ragheb, Director of St Joseph School, Egypt.

لو عاوزين مجتمع أفضـل وعالـم أفضـل، المدارس لهـا دور كبيـر. المدارس مع أوليـاء الأمور مع المدرسـين، الثلاث حلقات دول مهمين قـوى يكـونوا متعاونين مع بعض. سـيسـتر سـميحة راغب، مديرة مدرسـة القديس يوسـف بمصـر

If above video clips are not working, please post us a comment and you can watch them on Copts United website http://copts-united.com/article.php?I=62&A=2212. Thanks to Copts United.

Liverpool Council investigating...

Liverpool Council will be thoroughly inspecting SMC on Wednesday 22/4/2009 for alleged "Non Compliance with DA Conditions" and in relation to points 4, 7 and 8 mentioned in our post "Call for investigation" posted on Monday 6/4/2009. We will post the outcome as it becomes available.

We commend Liverpool Council for responding swiftly when it comes to children safety.

This is suppose to be a "Private School" with annual budget in excess of $5 million, while some public schools in the area have much better facilities and are much safer!!

This raises the following question:

Where has the money gone for the last 12 years?!!

Call for investigation...

After exhausting all avenues, it is with great regret, that we call upon all relevant authorities (including The BOS NSW, State and Federal granting agencies, ATO and ICAC) to investigate SMC for alleged inappropriateness and misconduct in regards to the following issues:

1. Spending of Commonwealth and State grants, building funds and subsidies including fees and donations.
2. The alleged siphoning of Government Funds to the Diocese.
3. The absence of an appropriate constitution for the school despite 12 years since its establishment.
4. The appropriateness of the school size to the number of students, specially play areas, which is compromising the children safety.
5. The staff hiring policy and process (entire families are employed in the school)!
6. The fairness and transparency of the process of hiring new HOC 2009, including but not limited to:
   a. Inviting a certain candidate to apply after closing date.
   b. Accepting applications after closing date.
   c. The composition of the selection panel.
   d. The role of the AIS in the process.
   e. The role of the church hierarchy in the process.
7. Alleged collaboration between different levels of executives to allegedly cover up issues of safety nature.
8. Repeatedly providing false information in “Annual School Reports” in relation to “Policies for Emergencies and Critical Events”.
9. The declining of satisfaction level of parents, students and teachers, which has reached its lowest ever.
10. The alarming rise in unethical Private Tutoring by the teaching staff to their class students.
11. The systematic interference of the church hierarchy in the running of the school.
12. Blackmailing parents in order not to speak up.

Witnesses and documents will be produced when requested by the authorities through direct communication with the parents’ body.

Do we enjoy this action?! Not in the slightest.

Do we like to destroy the school?! Certainly not, after all our kids are there.

Have we thought about this long and hard?! You bet we have.

We have been forced to take this action as a last resort because we love our school and we are saddened to see it dieing a slow and painful death.

Action or no Action!!!

Action may not always bring happiness,
but there is no happiness without action. -Benjamin Disraeli

،المبادرة ليست بالضرورة دومآ أن تجلب سـعادة

...ولكن لاسـعادة بلا مبادرة

بنيامين ديسرايلى

Recycled old baggage!!!

Last Wednesday 25th February 2009 was another sad page in the history of SMC. Last year's P&F executives (President and Vice President) were re-elected during the P&F AGM in what can be described as an ugly conspiracy, once again!!

Will we ever learn from our previous lessons??!!

Here it is, this is how it all unfolded:-

1. The P&F executives changed the election system to be "Pre-election Nomination" without consent of the parents body. Last year, the same individuals requested voting on very simple changes such as "changing the meeting day". Oh well, this time it is their suggestion and to their benefit so it's different. Hypocrisy at its best..

2. "The Nomination Form" signed by "P&F President 2008" was distributed on Thursday 19th February 2009 to be returned by Friday 20th February 2009!! Have you ever seen nomination system opened for ONLY 18 hours??!!

3. The meeting agenda was structured in the same manner as the agenda for the P&F meeting on Thursday 3rd July 2008 (the 1st P&F meeting after the alleged sexual assault case). The very last item on the agenda was, you guessed it, "Annual General Meeting" (2009 elections). It was designed to make many people sick, tired, frustrated and most likely leave the meeting before the election. Their supporters, who were on a mission, would of course stay until mission accomplished!!

4. "The P&F President 2008" denies receiving not even one single Nomination Form! It is guaranteed of at least a dozen forms were returned. Of course we will never know who was the nominees on those returned forms!!

"You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man." Psa 5 : 6

تُهْلِكُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِينَ بِالْكَذِبِ. رَجُلُ الدِّمَاءِ وَالْغِشِّ يَكْرَهُهُ الرَّبُّ." مز٥ : ٦"

5. Some of the voters had no children in the College! It's ok for them to attend as friends of the College but they should not have voting right as they are not financial members (fee-paying parents), just like any other association. But hey, we are not like the others!

"... How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?". Psa 4 : 2

حَتَّى مَتَى تُحِبُّونَ الْبَاطِلَ وَتَبْتَغُونَ الْكَذِبَ؟" مز٤: ٢"

6. There were reports that some of their friends "on a mission" left straight after the voting, which was a while before the closure of the meeting. Oh yes, mission accomplished!!

It has to be said that Fr Antonios Kaldas (the current Director) has pure angelic heart unable to see such conspiracy. May the Lord support and help him.

NB. For the record, the entire 2008 executive team made it clear last year on many occasions that they will not nominate themselves again because we do not deserve their service!! What has changed to alter their opinion?! Is the position very tempting, a cheeky one might ask??!!

However, "the P&F Secretary 2008" has decided to jump overboard and move back to St Mary Coptic College!! For its management and its P&F, please watch out as he could be on a mission there too?!!

HH is the Bishop for Education

“On September 30, 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. Antonios as Bishop Shenouda, the first Bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary, and by late 1969 the enrollment of full-time students doubled and the enrollment of part-time students increased 10 times its original number. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers. His Grace's efforts were recognized in 1969 when he was elected President of the Association of Middle East Theological Colleges.” http://st-takla.org/Pope-1.html#3

Christian Education is a broad term which covers all aspects of Coptic Education not only Theological Education. Therefore, it seams logical that all types of Coptic schools be headed and guided by HH direct. Of course, HH may appoint capable representatives to oversee operations and report directly to him.

May our Lord preserve him on his seat for many peaceful years, Amen.