Caretaker Minister of Culture Mohammad Mortada has frozen all decisions by the Acting Director of the National Conservatory of Music, Hiba Kawas, to "put an end to her unilateral whimsical practices," according to a statement issued by his press office on Sunday.
The text explains that the decision was taken following numerous complaints against Hiba Kawas, "who takes decisions without the approval of the Board of Directors and the Minister in charge," Mohammad Mortada.
The latest incident relates to the organization of music exams. According to the press release, Kawas has "decided to organize in Beirut, the ensemble music exams, the instrument exams and the music theory exams, for students enrolled in the institute's regional branches from the fourth year onwards."
Normally, "these examinations should have been organized in the regions, but taking into account the security conditions and economic constraints to which the students and their respective families are subject," the text explains, noting that Kawas "took the decision unilaterally without referring it to the Board of Directors, which was supposed to adopt it for subsequent ratification by the Minister of Culture."
This affair, the press release continues, "led to the resignation of three members of the Board of Directors, who wished to protest against the whimsical and individualistic policy pursued in general, contrary to the rules and laws in force" by the interim director.
The minister also considered that the call for exams "contradicts the government's guidelines for official exams, in the circumstances the country is currently experiencing."
He therefore decided to cancel the decision taken by Hiba Kawas, and deemed "null and void all decisions she has taken following the same procedure, whatever they may be, notably those relating to commitments made by the Conservatory or the release of funds."
The text explains that the decision was taken following numerous complaints against Hiba Kawas, "who takes decisions without the approval of the Board of Directors and the Minister in charge," Mohammad Mortada.
The latest incident relates to the organization of music exams. According to the press release, Kawas has "decided to organize in Beirut, the ensemble music exams, the instrument exams and the music theory exams, for students enrolled in the institute's regional branches from the fourth year onwards."
Normally, "these examinations should have been organized in the regions, but taking into account the security conditions and economic constraints to which the students and their respective families are subject," the text explains, noting that Kawas "took the decision unilaterally without referring it to the Board of Directors, which was supposed to adopt it for subsequent ratification by the Minister of Culture."
This affair, the press release continues, "led to the resignation of three members of the Board of Directors, who wished to protest against the whimsical and individualistic policy pursued in general, contrary to the rules and laws in force" by the interim director.
The minister also considered that the call for exams "contradicts the government's guidelines for official exams, in the circumstances the country is currently experiencing."
He therefore decided to cancel the decision taken by Hiba Kawas, and deemed "null and void all decisions she has taken following the same procedure, whatever they may be, notably those relating to commitments made by the Conservatory or the release of funds."
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