St Margaret's teacher 'sternly warned' for beating pupil
Stabroek News
March 6, 2004

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The Ministry of Education has sternly warned the St Margaret's Primary School teacher who administered corporal punishment repeatedly to a six-year-old pupil.

According to a letter written to the child's father, Dr Anwar Hussain, by the Chief Education Officer, Ed Caesar, the education ministry has concluded after an investigation that Dr Hussain's allegations of corporal punishment being inflicted on his son are justified.

"The teacher involved has been written to and sternly warned. The head teacher was also written to and reminded that she was accountable for the actions of all teachers. The Teaching Service Commis-sion was also apprised of the ministry's findings," the letter said.

But Dr Hussain, who complained that his son was beaten on numerous occasions, said yesterday that he has written again to Caesar as his child continues to be victimised by the class teacher.

Stabroek News also contacted the school's head teacher, Ellis Crandon, who had initially told this newspaper that there was no evidence to support Dr Hussain's allegations of corporal punishment administered by class teacher, Ann Adams. Yesterday she had nothing to say on the findings.

Caesar also apologised to Dr Hussain for not acknowledging the receipt of several letters he had written on the issue.

"As you are aware, I did arrange for an investigation into the concerns expressed by you," Caesar said.

He added that the Assistant Chief Education Officer of Georgetown was advised to closely monitor the management practices of St Margaret's.

The letter further stated that the ministry wanted to see established, and nurtured, good relationships between parents and teachers. The letter said in fact the 'School Improvement Planning' seeks to involve parents and the immediate school community in the future development of their respective schools.

"It was therefore quite disturbing when your concerns could not have been resolved promptly at the level of the school. The ministry regrets this."

Caesar told Dr Hussain that he is convinced that normalcy has been restored in relation to the allegations and observations that he has made.

Dr Hussain was advised that should he have any further concerns that cannot be resolved at the school level, to raise them with the Georgetown Assistant Chief Education Officer, who is directly in charge of the schools in Georgetown.

At a press conference on Thursday, Caesar had stated that his ministry does not support corporal punishment in school.