The New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) has launched an investigation after a video surfaced on Tuesday showing a student beating three of his schoolmates with a belt.
The incident is said to have occurred on Monday during the lunch break at the NATI.
Last evening, the Ministry of Education said it had launched an investigation after the video emerged on social media.
The Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO- Technical) and the Institute’s administration have been advised by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson, to ensure a thorough and expeditious investigation into the incident that the Ministry views as “disturbing”.
“The findings of that investigation will be shared when completed. The Education Ministry assures that the appropriate action (s) will be taken”, a release from the ministry said.
A video of the incident, which surfaced yesterday on various social media sites, shows one student standing with a belt in hand dealing three students, who were seated, lashes to the head and about the upper body. The student with the belt can also be seen using his hands to hit his schoolmates.
Additionally, the attacker was heard asking the trio why they were troubling him about his food, as he was cheered on by other students, who were recording the incident.
Stabroek News visited the school yesterday and was told that the head teacher was not present and that the deputy was unavailable to meet since she was in a meeting.
The Regional Education Officer for Region Six, when contacted, stated that she could not comment on the matter and that this newspaper should contact the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kim Williams-Stephen. However, the REO advised that this publication contact the school’s board, since the school falls under its purview.
When contacted, Regional Chairman David Armogan said officials at the school told him that an investigation was launched on Monday. He noted that he was told that all four students and their parents were invited to the school yesterday as part of the investigation.
According to Armogan, he was told that the issue had its genesis in the three students allegedly taunting their assailant, telling him that he had brought “dog food” for lunch to school. “But that doesn’t give him the right to take out his belt and beat three students. It’s wrong. He should have taken it to the head teacher or deputy and they would have been able to deal with it,” he said.
Armogan noted that as of yesterday all four students remained at school. “All they are saying to me at the moment is that they are still investigating. Up to now they can’t make a decision. I think he needs to be expelled,” he said. “I think the ministry will need to get into it because I don’t expect them [NATI] to make any headway with it. If they [NATI] got a chance, I think they will just leave it like that,” he added.
Armogan further stated that the school will have to make recommendations for the necessary disciplinary action to be taken. “I don’t know what’s taking so long to do a simple investigation,” he said, while adding that to his knowledge no official police report has been filed.
Armogan noted that he has told the school to provide a report to him by today.
