Corpun file 6924 at www.corpun.com

Trinidad Express, Port of Spain, 6 May 2001

Kamla to probe beating charges

Licks with umbrella

By Kim Boodram

EDUCATION Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been asked to investigate a male teacher at the Preysal Government Primary School, who allegedly beat three female students with an umbrella.

The pupils were said to have been hiding in their classroom on Tuesday morning at about 8.15, waiting to surprise their teacher with a birthday gift. A male teacher came by and allegedly began to beat the children.

The father of one of the girls complained to the principal the next day.

He returned to the school on Thursday to discover that no action had been taken. He made a formal complaint to the Ministry of Education and reported the incident to the Couva Police.

When the Daily Express attempted yesterday to speak to the school's principal, Sheherezad Nazir, we were told that she was extremely busy with an important report.

Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that corporal punishment was still legal but that there were legal guidelines for it. She said if a teacher felt that corporal punishment must be administered, he/she must seek the principal's approval and either the principal or another teacher must be present when it was being administered.

"When I read the principal's report I will be able to decide how to deal with this incident," the minister said.