Sydney: High School Principal Converts to Islam, Literacy Rate Increased

Chris Griffiths was appointed to lead Punchbowl Boys High School in late 2015.Mr Griffiths converted to Islam in 2014 while he was deputy principal at the same school.

 

He served as deputy principal since 2012 when he handled the administration of classes 8 to 10 along with Joumana Dennaoui, who took care of classes 7 and 9.
Ms Dennaoui remained deputy when Mr Griffiths was promoted.

Under Mr Dib’s leadership, the school got transformed from a campus controlled by Middle Eastern gangs where violence and drug dealing were rife, to a high performer with much better literacy and numeracy rates.

 

‘The former principal and deputy principal are still employed by the department but are currently on leave and will not return to the school,’ an investigation report said.

 

‘There was a significant lack of staff unity and there were a number of policies and procedures that were not being followed,’ Scott later said.

 

Mr Dib, who is now the NSW state MP for Lakemba, said last week exclusion of any kind was wrong as public schools were there for everyone.

 

‘Importantly there is no disruption to teaching and learning and the education opportunities provided to students,’ it said.