One day after the Education Ministry denounced the physical attack on a Graham’s Hall Primary School teacher by a parent, another teacher has been physically attacked by a parent.
The latest incident took place this morning at the St Angela’s Primary School.
According to the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, the female teacher was attacked and beaten by a parent of a pupil attending the St. Angela’s Primary School.
“The teacher received some injuries. The medical practitioner hasn’t pronounced on it but we are seeing scars, her face is swollen. The security guard as well has been injured and other staff members who tried to intervene, they have injuries as well,” the GTU President detailed.
The injured teacher was taken to a hospital in the city for medical attention.
Mr Lyte said the Ministry of Education must do more to safeguard teachers, and take decisive actions to prevent such attacks.
“The union is here in solidarity with the teachers of this school. This is becoming too frequent, where teachers are being assaulted by parents and guardians, and it is something that has to be addressed forthwith. So, we are going to continue to make the call to the Ministry to take decisive action,” Mr Lyte told the press.
GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, who was also present at the school, condemned the assault. She challenged the Education Ministry to not only issue a strong warning to parents, but to be consistent in its response to the attacks.
“We just had QC, not a sound. The Minister and the entire team, not a sound. If we are to debar parents from doing what they are doing then we have to be consistent with our calls, and we have to take stern actions against these parents. We can’t do it for one parent and not do it for another parent because of their so-called statuses,” the General Secretary said.
The GTU General Secretary said stern actions must be taken against parents who are guilty of assaulting teachers or aggression.
Just yesterday, the Education Ministry expressed grave concern over the physical assault of a graduate teacher, Mr Shawn Marshall at the Graham’s Hall Primary School.
The Ministry said “whatever the circumstances, it is a reprehensive and ghastly act. It is unacceptable and will not be condoned in the least”
According to Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussein, “when parents or guardians are engaged in violent acts against teachers, it goes against established values, norms, and expectations. We cannot beat teachers and then ask them to teach our children peaceful conflict resolutions,” the CEO said.
He assured that the Education Ministry will take appropriate actions to ensure all teachers continue to work in a safe and secured environment. Such actions including preventing violent or aggressive parents or guardians from having access to the school’s premises, transferring any learner out of a school whose parents commit acts of violence on teachers or any sanction deemed necessary.
The Education Ministry is urging parents and guardians to speak to the Head Teacher or Teacher-in-Charge of the school should there be any issue with a teacher.
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