A man who last month allegedly assaulted a teacher at the Graham’s Hall Primary School, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Magis-trate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate Court, ECD on February 8th where he was charged with causing actual bodily harm.
Steve Dick, the parent who is a construction worker of Lot 7 Turkeyen, ECD pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The charge states that on Wednesday, January 11th, at Graham’s Hall Primary School, Dick unlawfully assaulted Shawn Marshall to cause him actual bodily harm. He was placed on $40,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to March 23rd.
Another parent, Ashelle Clement, a 29-year-old cosmetologist of 14 Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown was also charged with assaulting another teacher, Nicasey Barker on Thursday, January 12th at the St. Angela’s Primary School.
Both the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) had issued separate statements expressing their grave concerns over both incidents.
“Whatever the circumstances, it is a reprehensible and ghastly act. It is unacceptable and will not be condoned in the least,” the MoE said in its statement while reassuring teachers that all appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that their work spaces will be a safe and secure environment. Actions will include prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises, and transferring any learner whose parents commit acts of violence on teachers. “Parents or guardians are reminded that in any instance where an incident occurs with a teacher, the matter must be brought to the attention of the head teacher or teacher in-charge of the school or institution,” the ministry said.
The MoE had also called on the Guyana Police Force or any institution of authority to take whatever action the law prescribes regarding assaults on teachers at their place of work.
General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta McDonald, had told Stabroek News that there are established procedures, such as lodging a complaint with the heads of schools whenever misunderstandings erupt between parents and teachers. McDonald added that if a parent is not satisfied with the answered received from the school, there is a department within the Ministry of Education where they can lodge their complaints. Teachers and approximately 15 concerned parents from Graham’s Hall Primary School had protested against the assault of Marshall.
