Berbice students protest teacher’s suspension

Hundreds of Berbice High School students yesterday protested the suspension of a teacher who flogged students for late assignments.

Students’ bicycles separated police from the protesters yesterday.
Students’ bicycles separated police from the protesters yesterday.

With the support of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the students stood outside the building, chanting slogans in support of the disciplined teacher. The female teacher is alleged to have flogged 31 students in the class, including girls, with a “bamboo rod” on their buttocks for not submitting assignments on time.

The Education Ministry has said repeatedly that corporal punishment should not be administered to students for school work. Under these circumstances the teacher would then have erred. The Region Six Regional Education Officer received approval from the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to send the teacher on leave until the matter is fully investigated. Additionally, it was revealed that the Chief Education Officer (CEO) had written a letter advising that the teacher should return to duty, but this has not found favour with the Education Ministry.

At the protest, which was managed by police ranks, under the supervision of Superintendent Simon Mc Bean, the students insisted that they would not enter the classrooms until the Ministry gave the green light for the teacher‘s return. As they waited for a call confirming the teacher’s reinstatement, the protesters became agitated, leading police to intervene.

A Fourth Former, Onorbe Johnson, 14, reported that while he stood at the school main entrance, a junior police rank held onto him and thereafter pushed him away. Asking the policeman why it was done, the student said the rank merely walked away. He did not pursue the matter further as a relative intervened.

Meanwhile, while the protesting students names were recorded on folios by their respective teachers, prior to them entering the school compound, a few  parents  were seen  mobilising  pupils in order to march to the Regional Democratic Council Office at Vryman’s Erven and then to the Department of Education at Philadelphia Street.

The students’ protest in full swing yesterday.
The students’ protest in full swing yesterday.

But Superintendent Mc Bean prevented the march from proceeding more than a few metres after instructing a parent to tell the protestors that it would be unlawful. The group heeded the warning and the students returned to outside the school building from where they later dispersed for home.

Members of the PTA said the protest would continue on Tuesday, as Monday is a national holiday.