Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, why did the MD decide to send the principal home after the crying incident?

This comprehension question asks about the Managing Director's reasoning for sending the principal home after his emotional breakdown at the school assembly. The MD, as the owner and highest authority of Stardom Schools, had to make a decision that balanced compassion for the principal with the interests of the institution.

The MD decided to send the principal home in order to protect the school's reputation. With parents already calling in with concerns following the incident, the MD recognised that allowing the principal to remain at school in a visibly distressed state could further damage the school's image and undermine parental confidence. Sending him home was a pragmatic decision aimed at containing the reputational fallout.

While allowing the principal to rest might have been a secondary benefit, it was not the primary reason stated in the passage. The decision was not made to avoid disturbing students further (that was already addressed by concluding the assembly), nor was it to prepare for a replacement. The MD's overriding concern was the institutional reputation of Stardom Schools.