…over sexual assault, drug use allegations

By Nafeeza Yahya
REGIONAL Education Officer (REDO) of Region Six, Ms. Volika Jaikishoon, and a team from the Regional Education Department met with the staff and administrative board of the Tagore Memorial Secondary School — at the centre of several allegations of inappropriate behaviours by teachers — after parents and guardians of students at the school called for the removal of the principal, the teacher who has been accused on several counts of sexual assault, and another accused of encouraging students to smoke narcotics.

Parents and guardians are reportedly outraged that two of the school’s teachers are allegedly involved in inappropriate behaviours with students, and are accusing the administrative board and head-teacher of covering up the incidents.

One incident alleges that a male teacher was arrested in July for sexual assault after he was allegedly found inappropriately touching a female student while in school sometime back in June. This matter is currently before the courts, but other students have since reportedly come forward with similar allegations against that teacher.

Parents and guardians are concerned that their complaints to the principal are being swept under the proverbial rug; and they accuse the administrative board of “siding with the teacher” and “accepting a lot of slackness.”

“Long I think this thing happening. Them should have get he out of there and take action against him,” one parent said in relation to the male teacher accused of inappropriately touching female students.

Speaking with this newspaper on condition of anonymity, parents and guardians have said that from what they gathered, the teacher has, for some time now, been indecently assaulting several female students, and whenever the matter is reported to the head-teacher, the allegations are simply brushed aside with the platitude: “I’ll look into it”.

Parents feel that the unconcerned attitude of the school’s administration will ruin the reputation of the school.

Another grievance involves allegations that another male teacher has been encouraging students to smoke marijuana by offering them a ‘pull’ while stating that smoking the narcotic is not a big deal.

One parent has said her daughter has been acting “strange” recently, and upon her enquiring, the child confided in her the teacher’s habit in regard to giving students narcotics. She related that a report was made to the head-teacher, and they are expecting the school to take disciplinary action against that teacher.

Another parent disclosed that her son has been acting abnormally, and at times would return home from school with his eyes red and him “acting out”. She only recently learnt that the teacher in question has been encouraging her son to smoke narcotics. She is adamant that the teacher should be investigated, and is of the opinion that the school no longer provides a safe environment for students.

This teacher who is at the centre of the marijuana smoking allegation is said to also be in the habit of acting in a hostile manner to students. He would often use indecent language in their presence, and would act “strangely” from time to time.

Contacted on the issue, school board chairman Charlie Amar confirmed that an investigation has been launched; but he stated that until that investigation has been completed, he would not be able to speak publicly on the matter. The chairman has said there are two sides to a story, and he believes that the investigation would bring the truth to light.

“The image of many good schools can be tarnished when erroneous and unfounded thoughts go through the media by irresponsible people without verifying and investigating,” he declared.

He also said that the safety and well-being of the students is of paramount importance, and if the teachers are guilty of neglect or endangering the lives of the students, then the appropriate course of action would be taken against them.