Section 21B: Power to give directives

21B. Power to give directives (1) Where, in respect of a secondary school, the Authority has reason to believe that – (a) a directive is necessary or desirable to protect the interests, welfare, safety and health of the staff and students of the school; (b) industrial relations are becoming strained; (c) grants are not being used for the intended purposes; (d) the school has contravened or is likely to contravene a relevant law, it may give the school such a written directive as it may determine in the circumstances. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may direct a secondary school – (a) in the case of a contravention of a relevant law, to do a specified act, or refrain from doing a specified act, for the purpose of – (i) remedying the effects of the contravention; or 384 Acts 2016 (ii) taking such measures as may be necessary to ensure that no contravention occurs; (b) to comply with a law; (c) to comply with any policy, rule, guideline, directive, standard or other similar instrument issued by the authority; or (d) to comply with a directive within such time as it may determine. (3) A secondary school which is given a directive shall comply with the directive notwithstanding any contract or arrangement to which it is a party. (4) The Authority may impose such administrative sanction as may be prescribed if a school fails to comply with a directive issued to it within such time as may have been determined. (5) No person shall knowingly hinder or prevent a secondary school from complying with a directive given to it under this section.