Punchbowl High principal sacked for excluding female staff from events

THE principal of a mostly Muslim high school in Punchbowl, in Sydney’s south west, has been sacked for excluding female staff from official events.

Punchbowl HS principal Chris Griffiths in a picture from his Twitter account.

THE principal of a south west Sydney boys school has been sacked for excluding female staff from official events.

Chris Griffiths and his deputy Joumana Denanoiu have been stood down from their roles at the mostly Muslim Punchbowl Boys High, The Australian reported.

Among issues leading to the drastic move by the NSW Education Department are claims Mr Griffiths practised an unofficial policy of excluding female teachers from Year 12 graduation ceremonies and presentation days.

Chris Griffiths and deputy Joumana Denanoiu have been sacked from Punchbowl Boys High School.

“As a result of a recent appraisal of Punchbowl Boys High School, there has been a change in the leadership of the school,” an Education Department spokesman said.

“A new principal and deputy principal will commence work at the school tomorrow.”

Mr Griffiths was appointed to run the school in 2015 after Jihad Dib, who was credited with restoring its reputation, left to become the NSW Labor MP for Lakemba.

Community sources claim Mr Griffiths also cancelled large community dinners and barred former students from visiting the school.