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Sexual molestation in schools… : GTU president hopeful that ministry will reconsider action against teachers
President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Colwyn King, is optimistic that the Ministry of Education will reconsider its actions in recommending disciplinary measures against some teachers who have either been accused of misconduct or negligence recently.
King said that he was slated to meet with officials from the ministry yesterday in this regard. However, confirmation of the staging of that meeting was not ascertained.
The intent of the meeting, though, according to King, is that the ministry fulfil its obligation to follow due procedure as it relates to disciplining teachers.
King disclosed that an agreement between the union and the ministry outlines that, as far as possible, all matters, including the disciplining of teachers, should be settled in schools; but he noted that if a mutually satisfactory solution cannot be reached, then the matter should be taken to the Regional Education Officer.
Of paramount importance, too, he said, is that a union official or representative must be present during the conduct of any investigation or inquiry.
He added that if the matter has to be taken to the central ministry, then the teacher should be charged and given every opportunity to exculpate him/herself.
But, according to King in a recent interview, not only has the ministry taken drastic action against teachers of schools where acts of sexual molestation were carried out, but the ministry failed to involve the union as part of the course of action.
As a result, the GTU had written to the ministry in hope that the situation would be rectified, since the union is obligated to represent teachers regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in.
King said that while teachers are continually being targeted, he believes that the incompetence of some Education Officers must also be addressed.
He added that it has been recognised that some officers are unable to perform at a satisfactory level.
He is of the view that if drastic action can be instituted against teachers, such should be the case across the board.
A recent disclosure of acts of sexual molestation at a number of schools had led the ministry to recommend to the Teaching Service Commission that the sternest sanctions be taken against culpable teachers, and even head teachers who were believed to have been negligent.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh categorically stated that there will be no compromising with teachers who are guilty of sexually molesting students, or even those against whom such allegations are made.
He had added that teachers found to be involved of such activities cannot be deemed fit to be teachers, and should therefore be removed from the system.
He has stressed that the ministry will also ensure that alternatives are found to replace those teachers, even in cases where they are highly qualified.
And, according to several teachers who feel that their reputations have to some extent been affected by the actions of their colleagues, they are satisfied that the ministry has taken action and will continue to monitor teachers in the system.
They are of the opinion that, had such a state of affairs been “swept under the rug,” then it would have paved the way for a continuance of actions, which could possibly even lead to the very destruction of some children’s lives.
For this reason, the ministry will, in addition to screening teachers before they enter the system, dispatch a corps of Guidance and Counselling Officers to various schools to help those affected to overcome the unfortunate occurrences, the minister divulged.
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