Timeline
For events since 2007, see the What's New page.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Our first application for positions at Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School |
| 1997 | We interview in East Africa for positions with AKES |
| March 2005 | |
| 3 | Interview with Dr. Peter Samaranayake (Dr. Sam), AKES,T Head of Education, in Toronto |
| 24 | AKES,T makes its first offer |
| 27 | We decline AKES,T's offer |
| August 2005 | |
| 1 | AKES,T contacts us again, wanting to know our status, and what it would take to get us to Tanzania |
| 3 | We reply to AKES,T |
| 5 | AKES,T says yes in principle |
| 17 | AKES,T gives the go-ahead |
| 18 | Email from Dr. Sam regarding "telephonic interview" |
| 19 | Phone conversation with Laura Swash, Head of School, and John Forbes, IB Coordinator - they express uncertainty about our roles |
| 20 | AKES,T contracts arrive; we send back amendments; Dr. Sam telephones to discuss contract issues |
| 23 | Dr. Sam requests letters of application; he says that this is just a formality |
| 30 | Couriered contracts and documents to AKES,T |
| October 2005 | |
| 18 | Air tickets arrive |
| 28 | We leave Ottawa |
| 30 | We arrive in Dar es Salaam |
| 31 | First day at school; we meet with Laura Swash and John Forbes, who seem not to know why we are there |
| November 2005 | |
| 1 | Mike starts teaching; Saira observes classes |
| 3 | John Forbes tells Saira that AKMSS students have language problems; Dr. Sam asks Saira if she would take over the English classes from two teachers leaving in December |
| 5 | After-hours curriculum development begins - the group meets at our flat everyday after school |
| 8 | IBO inspection meeting with staff; John Forbes gives Saira minutes of AKES,T Board meeting regarding language policy |
| 9 | Mike has a fruitless meeting with John Forbes regarding curriculum and the humanities; Laura Swash and John Forbes hold information meeting for new staff members and make comments about AKDN |
| 15 | Saira teaches first support staff class |
| 18 | "Induction for new teachers" meeting; John Forbes interrupts our curriculum meeting with the Deputy Head, Academics |
| 22 | Saira sends language report to Laura Swash, Dr. Sam, Siraj Narsi (CEO), and Alkarim Dawood (Chair of Board) |
| 23 | Humanities curriculum meeting with Dr. Sam - he informs the group that he does not wish to be involved at this level |
| 25 | Meeting with Siraj Narsi, CEO |
| 29 | IBO gives AKMSS authorization |
| December 2005 | |
| 1 | Meeting with Dr. Sam |
| 4 | Give "Suggestions for Improvement at AKMSS" to Alkarim Dawood, Chair of AKES,T |
| 6 | Laura Swash challenges Saira about her class assignments in the new year, and seems not to comprehend the terms of Saira's contract |
| 7 | Saira insists on a meeting with Dr. Sam; Laura Swash insists that Siraj Narsi be present; Dr. Sam is unreachable |
| 8 | Difficult meeting with Siraj Narsi and Laura Swash; Laura Swash informs us that another foreign teacher is being brought to set up a "whole school English program" |
| 13 | School closes for Christmas holidays |
| January 2006 | |
| 9 | School re-opens for new term - the CEO has withdrawn his son from the school |
| 10 | Announcement that Dr. Sam no longer works for AKES,T and that all communication is to go through Laura Swash |
| 13 | An Australian couple (Joy Fowler and Alan Castree) join the school - they turn out to be old friends of Laura Swash |
| 17 | Laura Swash comes into our classes unannounced |
| 27 | Elly Oloo Nyamwaya is appointed Head of English |
| 30 | Meeting regarding the future of the national curriculum |
| 31 | Mike sends email to Laura Swash in response to her request for suggestions about national curriculum; Laura Swash replies to say that Form V cannot be reintroduced |
| February 2006 | |
| 1 | Freda Forbes appointed the new IGCSE Coordinator |
| 2 | Joy Fowler promoted to mentor of English department - this relieves her of all teaching duties and curriculum development; her only task now is to sit in on classes and evaluate teachers; her reports determine the future of these teachers |
| 3 | We meet with Aziz Rattansi (CFO) and Siraj Narsi (CEO) regarding salary issues |
| 5 | We call Waheeda Samji (Chair of Board) to request a meeting |
| 6 | Meeting with Waheeda Samji - we inform her of the situation at AKMSS (she brings up both our probation and the appraisal process) |
| 8 | We send reports to Waheeda Samji |
| 10 | Receive email from Waheeda Samji - the last two reports not received; Mike resends them [Receipt never acknowledged]; Laura Swash comes into our classes unannounced |
| 13 | Reintroduction of Form V announced |
| 16 | IB information session for parents |
| 19 | We email Waheeda Samji |
| 21 | Open letter emailed to Laura Swash objecting to her remarks in the morning staff meeting; Rosemary Kinyanjui accosts Saira with demands about the class for support staff; Laura Swash sends a public response and a private response to our open letter |
| 22 | Rosemary Kinyanjui sends an email to Saira regarding the support staff class |
| 23 | Saira responds to Rosemary Kinyanjui's email; Rosemary Kinyanjui replies in a libellous fashion, cc'ing her email to the CEO and the Head of School; we send our reports to Mirza Pardhan at Aiglemont |
| 24 | Rosemary Kinyanjui sends a "retraction" |
| 25 | We send our reports to Zahir Jivani, Chair of the Jamati Council |
| 27 | Email replies from Mirza Pardhan and Zahir Jivani |
| March 2006 | |
| 6 | "Educational consultants" visit the school |
| 7 | One of the consultants comes into Mike's class unannounced; staff meeting with the same consultant; Laura Swash comes into Mike's class unannounced |
| 10 | Laura Swash hands out the appraisal forms, and posts a notice regarding the process (including the schedule) on the Teaching Resource Centre door |
| 13 | We meet with our 1st appraisers to inform them of our intention to raise issues about the form and the process with the AKES,T Board; email from Laura Swash ordering us to go get appraised; we send email to Waheeda Samji [we have never received a response] |
| 14 | Send email to Mirza Pardhan regarding the "educational consultants" visit |
| 15 | Send email to our 1st appraisers, cc'd to Laura Swash, informing them that we have sent our concerns to the AKES,T Board; Laura Swash goes overseas for a week |
| 16 | Reply from Mirza Pardhan regarding our concerns about the educational consultants |
| 20 | Dr. Desmond Pearce arrives to conduct a review of AKMSS; he brings a new appraisal form, acknowledging that the AKMSS form is unworkable |
| 21 | Meetings with Des Pearce; staff air their concerns about the school |
| 22 | Laura Swash returns from overseas; she informs us after the morning meeting that she wishes to meet with us at 2:45, but refuses to tell us why; at 2:45, she still refuses to tell us - we decline to meet with her and advise her to put it in writing; ~3pm the Deputy Head, Administration delivers our letters of termination; we send emails to Waheeda Samji, and to Mirza Pardhan, Pascale Kokanosky, Salim Bhatia, and Nimet Rener at Aiglemont; we accidently receive email from Nimet Rener, expressing surprise at our termination |
| 23 | CEO's resignation announced; students protest our sacking; Laura Swash goes to all grade 8 and 9 classes to tell students that we are too expensive and not qualified; Mike calls Waheeda Samji for a meeting to discuss contractual issues - she refuses to meet for 8-10 days; we deliver our letter to Laura Swash informing her that we have contractual issues to discuss with the Chair of AKES,T; we send a copy of our letter to Waheeda Samji [no response], and give copies to the Deputy Heads and our respective Heads of Department; Siraj Narsi (ex-CEO) calls to summon us to a meeting the next day (March 24) with him and Laura Swash - Mike insists that Waheeda Samji or another Board member also be present |
| 24 | Waheeda Samji emails to ask why we want to meet with her; we reply that the first two questions regard (i) the validity of the termination, and (ii) the fact that no reason whatsoever was given [no response]; email from Laura Swash in response to our March 15 email regarding the appraisal process |
| 27 | Our classes are re-scheduled and re-assigned; students submit a petition to the AKES,T Board [no response] |
| 28 | Ex-CEO holds staff meeting at the school |
| 29 | "Educational consultant" report circulated at the school |
| 31 | Laura Swash holds staff meeting to explain her vision for the school |
| April 2006 | |
| 3 | Continuing silence from the AKES,T Board; we seek legal advice |
| 4 | We decide to take legal action, and instruct our advocate to send a letter to the Chair of AKES,T outlining our grievances and the remedy we expect; the letter asks for a round-table meeting on April 8 at 10am to resolve the issue amicably |
| 5 | Telephone call and visit from Shezhad Pirani |
| 6 | Aziz Rattansey, CFO of AKES,T, contacts us to say AKES,T would like to meet us on April 8, but without lawyers present; we prefer to have our advocate present; Shezhad Pirani calls us with the same message; letter to staff from Waheeda Samji repeating the message of the "educational consultants" and stating that the headmistress was going abroad to recruit more "internationally qualified teachers"; we receive written notice from AKES,T Chair saying that April 8 was not convenient for them, and suggesting April 13 at 10am instead |
| 7 | School closes for Easter holidays |
| 10 | Our advocate tells AKES,T that April 13 is fine, but requests 2pm since he is in court throughout the morning |
| 12 | AKES,T replies that April 13 is no longer convenient and asks to put the meeting off again until April 20, perhaps; as our letters of termination order us to vacate our apartment on April 23, our advocate refuses this suggestion on our behalf |
| 13 | Email from Amin Kurji, AKDN representative, asking if he can help resolve this matter out of court; we reply but never hear from him again |
| 18 | We meet with the Consular Officer at the Canadian High Commission; a letter is sent to the AKES,T Chair stating concern about the "precarious and uncertain status of the Canadian couple in Tanzania" and requesting "a timely resolution of this situation" |
| 19 | Regional Labour Officer report |
| 20 | AKMSS is served with a summons to appear in court |
| 21 | First appearance in court - we are able to retain possession of the flat for the duration of the case; second court date scheduled for April 28, with the hope that a settlement will be reached before then |
| 22 | Our lawyer is contacted by AKES,T's lawyer, who says that they have agreed to pay |
| 24 | We are interviewed by a student journalist at AKMSS for the school paper |
| 25 | We are served with letters banning us from entering the school; Laura Swash off to international recruitment fair in the UK |
| 27 | We complete our exit formalities; first and only meeting with AKES,T, at their lawyer's office - no settlement can be reached since no Board member is present |
| 28 | John and Freda Forbes announce their resignation; second appearance in court - AKES,T lawyer absent - case adjourned to May 3 |
| 29 | Reply from AKES,T Chair to the Canadian High Commission stating that "AKES,T has always had every intention of providing all the benefits...and will do so as soon as Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald have completed their exit formalities" |
| May 2006 | |
| 3 | Third appearance in court - AKES,T lawyer absent - case adjourned to May 8 |
| 5 | Rosemary Kinyanjui announces her resignation |
| 8 | Laura Swash announces her resignation; fourth appearance in court - AKES,T lawyer absent - case adjourned to June 9 |
| 13 | AKES,T lawyer informs our lawyer that he thought we had already been paid - this was why he did not appear in court on May 8 |
| 18 | CFO announces his resignation |
| 19 | Court mediation scheduled for May 25 |
| 25 | Court mediation put off until June 1; AKES,T lawyer out of town but leaves message that they have agreed to pay what we asked for at the round-table discussion of April 27 |
| 29 | AKES,T delivers offer of settlement |
| June 2006 | |
| 1 | Court mediation put off until June 8 |
| 3 | We reply to AKES,T's offer of settlement |
| 5 | We send letter by registered mail to Princess Zahra Aga Khan |
| 8 | We are not on the schedule for court mediation |
| 9 | Case comes up for hearing - AKES,T lawyer is absent but has sent a representative to request an adjournment to another date; the magistrate schedules a series of dates for written submissions on preliminary objections: Defendants to file on June 12, Plaintiffs to respond on June 14, Defendants to respond on June 16; ruling scheduled for June 21 |
| 21 | Ruling put off to next day - AKES,T lawyer absent again but sends another representative |
| 22 | Magistrate rules in our favour - all preliminary objections raised by AKES,T are dismissed as being without merit - court mediation scheduled for June 29 |
| 29 | Court mediation takes place - AKES,T ordered to pay what is not in dispute; a trial date is to be set for the remaining items |
| 30 | First article reporting on the case appears in the Guardian newspaper; school closes for summer holidays |
| July 2006 | |
| 3 | Second article reporting on the case appears in the Guardian newspaper; cheques and air tickets delivered by AKES,T, but they fail to fulfill the terms of the settlement order, which stipulate "The air tickets to be open" |
| 18 | Trial date set for July 21 |
| 21 | Case adjourned until July 25 |
| 25 | Case cannot be heard because AKES,T lawyer is absent - new date set for July 27; AKES,T is served with a summons to appear on that date |
| 27 | First day of trial - Saira gives her testimony - case adjourned until August 3 |
| 29 | Third article reporting on the case appears in the Guardian newspaper |
| August 2006 | |
| 3 | Second day of trial - AKES,T objects to the newspaper reporter in the courtroom and asks that he be banned - Mike gives partial testimony - AKES,T objects to the AKES,T Policy and Procedures Manual being a photocopy - case adjourned to August 7 |
| 7 | Third day of trial - magistrate rules that (i) the reporter can remain in the courtroom, and (ii) that the AKES,T Policy and Procedures cannot be entered as evidence, but may be referred to by the witness - Mike finishes testifying - case adjourned until August 23 |
| 23 | Fourth day of trial - case adjourned to September 5 because AKES,T have no witnesses - AKES,T lawyer claims that Laura Swash is "untraceable" [but see this website] |
| September 2006 | |
| 5 | Fifth day of trial - AKES,T produces 1st witness, a fellow teacher from AKMSS; cross-examination, and testimony and cross-examination of 2nd AKES,T witness set for September 8 |
| 8 | AKES,T appears with their 1st witness only - our advocate is informed that the second witness, Shehzad Pirani, had to go to mosque - magistrate has another engagement - case adjourned until September 14 |
| 14 | Magistrate is ill - case adjourned until September 21 |
| 21 | Sixth day of trial - cross-examination of 1st AKES,T witness and testimony and cross-examination of second AKES,T witness, Shezhad Pirani - testimony is concluded - magistrate sets dates for written submissions: Defendants to file on September 25, Plaintiffs to respond on September 28; judgement scheduled for October 16 |
| 29 | Joy Fowler announces her resignation |
| October 2006 | |
| 16 | A new magistrate reads the judgement left by the previous magistrate, who has relocated - our case is dismissed for lack of a legal basis - we have the right to appeal |
| 17 | Photocopies of letters of eviction and demand for legal costs signed by Shehzad Pirani slipped under our door - we must vacate the flat by noon October 19 and AKES,T demand $4,000 USD |
| 18 | Original letters hand-delivered; a third letter demanding a response to these letters hand-delivered by Shezhad Pirani |
| 19 | We leave Dar es Salaam |
| November 2006 | |
| 21 | We arrive back in Ottawa |
| March 2007 | |
| 7 | www.historyofafailure.com goes live |
| May 2007 | |
| 3 | Our advocate informs us that our appeal hearing has been set for June 27 |
| July 2007 | |
| 10 | Our advocate informs us that AKES,T has filed objections to our appeal - the hearing has been adjourned until October - written objections and responses are to be filed |
For events since 2007, see the What's New page.
