The headmistress of the West Ruimveldt Primary School is being investigated by the Ministry of Education over allegations that she administered such severe corporal punishment to a child as to leave him incapacitated.
The child, a Grade Three student, Stabroek News was told, was on Thursday held facedown by two older students while the head teacher whipped him with a taped bamboo rod. A photo, seen by this newspaper, shows badly bruised and swollen buttocks and the child is unable to sit or lie on his back. When contacted, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand told Stabroek News that she was aware of the incident and that it is being investigated.
She explained that officials would have to investigate to see if Ministry of Education rules as regards corporal punishment were breached. “…We view any breaches of our policies very seriously,” she said.
A teacher of the school informed that Ministry of Education officials yesterday visited the school and began investigations into the matter as the mother of the child had visited the ministry and filed an official complaint. The child was later taken to visit a doctor and a medical report was given.
The Ministry of Education’s website states that corporal punishment must only be administered by the Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, or designated Senior Master/ Mistress and was restricted to be used in circumstances such as fighting, use of indecent language and gross insubordination.
Further, corporal punishment must only be used in cases of continued display of unacceptable behaviours or in grave circumstances.
It says too that students must not be punished in the presence of other learners.
Males should be punished in their hands or on their buttocks while females must be punished in their hands.
The designated disciplinarian should use either a cane or strap no longer than 24 inches.
The mother of the child, on a social media site, said, “These teachers think they have a right to do anything to people children…well think again.”
