Valdeen Shears-Neptune
The parent of a second year student of Jordan Hill Presbyterian Primary School is claiming her child was physically assaulted by a teacher last Wednesday.
The incident allegedly took place after classes were dismissed when her six-year-old daughter was kept back to copy notes off the board. However, it is alleged that the child’s hand, shoulder and arm was badly bruised when the teacher forcefully wrung it.
A source speaking on behalf of the child’s family explained yesterday the injuries were noticed later that evening by her mother.
The mother subsequently took the child to the Princes Town Police Station where a report was made.
The school’s principal and the Education Ministry were notified of the matter.
Officers at the station yesterday told the T&T Guardian there were not at liberty to confirm the parent’s report.
This, however, is reportedly the third such incident in which the female teacher was involved.
Contacted yesterday, chief education officer Harrilal Seecharan said he was unaware of any new issues at the school and assured an investigation would be launched into the allegations.
Last year, the teacher was reportedly assaulted by a student who was subsequently suspended and placed on probation after appearing before a magistrate. The teacher suffered injuries to her neck, arm and elbow and was placed on injury leave but the student has since sat the SEA examination and left the school.
A source said about four months ago the teacher was named again in another incident which was reported to the Education Ministry, Presbyterian Board and the Child Protection Unit of the T&T Police Service.
That matter is still reportedly under investigation.
“Parents are concerned the authorities will continue to turn a blind eye and not recognise that not one incident, two incidents, but now three incidents, means there is an issue with the teacher and not necessarily the students.
“They are calling on the ministry and relevant authorities to address their concerns before a child is seriously hurt by this teacher,” the source added.
If that failed, the source said, the parents would consider staging a protest outside the school’s compound.
Contacted yesterday, principal Marcelyn Ali said she could not comment and referred the T&T Guardian to the Ministry of Education.
Calls to the mobiles of T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) president Devanand Sinanan and second vice president Lynsley Doodhai went unanswered.