Head teacher allegedly severely beats child over fire crackers

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

A student of West Ruimveldt Primary School has accused his Head Teacher of severely beating him with a bamboo wrapped with adhesive tape because he had allegedly taken fire crackers to school.

A photograph seen by Demerara Waves Online News depicts badly inflamed buttocks of a seven-year-old, Grade Three student.

The whipping occurred on Thursday at the school. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand confirmed to DemWaves that education officers were probing a complaint against the Head Teacher.

However, well-placed sources have confirmed that the extreme case of corporal punishment did occur and a report is being compiled. Other sources said the Head Teacher could face disciplinary action by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).

The boy’s mother said a senior education officer has assured her that the matter would be fully investigated and action would be taken because it is a serious matter.

The woman alleged that her son received more than six lashes from the Head Teacher who was assisted by two other students in holding him down. “The Head Teacher said she was scolding him for bringing the fire crackers and she didn’t take the time to find out the truth about the story because she was getting different stories from the children so she just made a judgement and beat him. And all she tell me was sorry,” said the woman.

The mother said she took her son to a doctor for treatment and she was Friday night expected to receive a medical report.

She expressed gratitude to the Education Officers for the attention they gave her complaint. “I must say that the welfare and ministry have moved fast on this and showed interest in the matter and I am very grateful for this,” she said.