There's yet another shocking incident of a teacher assaulting a student in a secondary institution in the north of the country last Friday. The matter has been reported to the police of the locality (OB 1423/09 and OB 1424/09) both by the student and his mother, a high ranking teaching staff in a BEC school. Police issued the student a Form 58 on the same day and was examined at the SSRN Hospital where even the doctor expressed disgust at what the so-called teacher had done.

The matter is also being taken up with the relevant authorities, including different ministries, the Commissioner of Police for quick action, and the Human Rights Commission so that such incidents do not recur in any school against any student. The child's grandparent, a well-known  figure, is so furious at the arrogance of the teacher that he is even contemplating private prosecution against the teacher and the school if the management or the authority fails to take satisfactory action.

The matter would not have gone so far had the teacher accepted his mistake when the responsible  party, the mother, went to see him asking for explanation. Instead he refused to talk about the matter and exuded an unparalleled arrogance by shouting in Kreol language something along these lines:  “Go and do whatever you want. This school is managed by a socio-cultural organisation and not with Government funds.” In the present case, the school is registered with the PSSA and benefits from public funds.

Knowing the noose is tightening around his neck, the teacher has now given a “pre-measure statement”, five days after the assault, to harass, scare, and force the family to withdraw the case. He has enlisted the support of two fake witnesses, it is said. They are also teachers. 

News On Sunday vehemently condemns the attitude of these teachers and wants the authorities to take immediate action. Assault of any student is unpardonable. Teachers who are responsible for such acts deserve to be sacked. 

Violence on  students is a matter of serious concern. Whatever be the reason for provocation, a teacher has no right to hit a student or to threaten him. There are more civilised channels of communication within an institution that teachers can resort to. Those who fail to do that  are the ones who try to shield their inefficiency, incompetence and frustration as teachers and opt for threats and assaults. And they do not deserve any sympathy.  They must be punished  and debarred from teaching for life.