By HERMAN ROOP DASS Wednesday, March 26 2008

MURTUZA BAKSH, 84, a retired Schools Supervisor II, who served as a member of the Teaching Service Commission for 18 years, died on Easter Monday at the St Joseph Medical Associates Nursing Home, after a short illness.

Husband of Feroza (nee Sadeek) and father of six, (five girls and one boy), Baksh received a National Award in 2007— the Public Service Medal of Merit.

Prior to his becoming a Schools Supervisor, Baksh was on the Staff of the then Preysal Presbyterian School, California Government School, and later became Principal of San Fernando TML School and St Joseph TML School.

At St Joseph he won the Lalla Trophy (School Gardening for the first time) and the Agricultural Shield, for School Gardening supremacy on four occasions.

Baksh who was described as an educational icon in the country, was the pioneer behind the Royal Bank Singing Competition in the Caroni Education Division, as well as the Hugill Shield Caroni Games. He served in the field of education from the age of 15 to 82 — a period of 67 years.

He was awarded two Scholarships during his career, first at the University of Exeter, England, and the other at the University of Queensland, Australia, to pursue a course leading to the Certificate in Education. He served as Schools Supervisor 1 from 1970-1978; and Schools Supervisor 11 from 1979-1983.

Baksh had a brilliant academic careeer topping the island in the Teachers’ Provisional Certificate Examination, which was in operation at that time. Among his six children Yasmin is Principal of Madras Government; Laila is a Marketing Agent in Canada, and formerly a teacher in Trinidad and Tobago, Camille is Principal of San Fernando TML, Shereen is Principal of Jerningham Government, Aga is on the Staff of Orange Valley Government, and Vanissa is an employee of Guardian Life.

He was Principal of the Year in Trinidad and Tobago in 1968. His funeral takes place at 2.30 pm today from the house of mourning, Preysal, and thence to the Preysal cemetery.