Taveuni Teacher Under Investigation

Police is investigating a reported case of assault allegedly carried out by a senior teacher at a primary school in Taveuni.

The alleged corporal punishment incident happened on Tuesday.

It is alleged that five Year Three students were given a hiding by the assistant head teacher for their slow writing.

Divisional Police Commander (DPC) Northern Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kemueli Baledrokadroka confirmed yesterday they had received a report.

“Our officers will get the medical report and based on the findings, we will bring the teacher in for questioning,” SSP Baledrokadroka said.

What led to the incident?

A parent of one of the five children, Roneel Sharma, lodged the complaint with police and Ministry of Education.

Mr Prasad said when his three children returned home from school on Tuesday, his youngest child complained his backside was painful. They attend Taveuni Central Sanatan Primary School.

“When my wife lifted his uniform, she saw red marks and questioned what happened,” Mr Sharma said.

“My son said he was among four other students who couldn’t finish writing two questions, and the bell rang for the next class to begin.”

It is claimed the class teacher, who happens to be the assistant head teacher’s wife, became upset and instructed the class prefect to escort the five students to the assistant head teacher’s office.

The students alleged the assistant head teacher used a stick resembling a mop handle to strike each of them.

“I was very angry because I know corporal punishment is not allowed,” Mr Sharma said.

“I immediately went to the school around 4:15pm and met the head teacher, and he said to return the next day.”

Mr Prasad then went to report the matter at the Waiyevo Police Station, where he was advised to produce a medical report.

This was done at the Waiyevo Sub-divisional Hospital.

He claimed that after the medical examination, the doctor advised him that the police would collect the report.

“The school manager called us to his home yesterday to sort out this matter as he didn’t want teachers to lose their jobs,” he claimed.

“We only did what any other parent would do and now leave it to the police and Ministry of Education to deal with this ongoing issue because my son doesn’t want to go to school.”

School, ministry response

Yesterday, Davendra Kumar, the head teacher of Taveuni Central Sanatan Primary School, acknowledged he was informed about the complaint made by a parent.

“I am aware that there were five students allegedly assaulted, and we are waiting for the police to take action because only one parent complained.”

The parents of the child also emailed their complaint to the Northern Divisional Education Office. It is understood the ministry is carrying out its own internal investigation.

Education Permanent Secretary Selina Kuruleca could not be reacher for a comment.

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However, in an earlier interview, she said corporal punishment in schools was not allowed.

“Any complaints of corporal punishment received by the ministry are directed to our professional disciplinary unit. It will be investigated before disciplinary action is taken,” Ms Kuruleca said.

“In our ministry, we have a training unit, and I have been working with them to identify other methods and interventions outside of corporal punishment.”

She reminded teachers to stop using corporal punishment as a form of disciplining children.

Minister Tabuya

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya said corporal punishment was a crime; a form of assault.

“You can’t excuse corporal punishment, and yet you punish someone who is pushing or hitting someone between two citizens; it’s not consistent,” Ms Tabuya said.

“We must be made aware that this is happening and bind as a nation to stop it.”

She said children were a gift from God and should be protected.

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