The violence by some teachers against the students has reached the point where only yesterday one parent resorted to the police for help; and, according to her, the police have said it is the fourth such report by parents.

Chief among the other concerns of parents are teacher absenteeism and the lack of proper sanitary facilities at the school.

The parent who has moved to the police is also claiming that the male teacher she accuses of abusing her two boys has threatened that, “They will pick you up with a spade if I lose my job.”

Priya Hansraj is alleging that her two boys –- one nine years old and the other 12 — were both abused by the said male teacher.

Hansraj said that, two Mondays ago, the male teacher in question was engaged in a fight with a female teacher over a writing board.

Her older son, who is in Grade Six, said he was looking on at the brawl between the two teachers when the male teacher turned to him and asked what he was staring at. At that, the student said, he was grabbed by his shirt and slammed into the school wall. Then, he said, the teacher hung him out of the window and threatened to “drop” him.

This report was confirmed by other students of the same class with whom Kaieteur News spoke independently.

When contacted, the Head Teacher of the school agreed to talk with Kaieteur News, although she would not disclose her name to this newspaper.

The Head Teacher said that she was not in school when the fight between the two teachers occurred, and when the student was abused. She did not deny that the incident occurred, however, but she would only say that the report she had received was that the teacher had grabbed the student by the shirt.

The Head Teacher said that she has since spoken with the accused teacher. She said that when complaints are made, a teacher is first warned; and if a second incident occurs, the teacher is reported to the Regional Education Department.

Mrs Hansraj said that this was not the first time that complaints have been made against the said teacher. She said that, at one time, her younger son, who is in Grade Four, came home with “black and blue” marks about his body, and when she asked him how he had acquired same, he said he was “pushed down” by the same teacher.

According to Mrs Hansraj, she confronted the teacher about his excesses, and he called her a “dunce” and threatened her.

Other parents have complained about abuse on the part of other teachers. Seema Latchman said that she was forced to take her Grade One child out of the school after the child came home with “black and blue” marks on her back. The child told her mother that the teacher hit her with “a blackboard ruler.”

Other children have complained to their parents about the abuse they have suffered at the hands of teachers, including being told to kneel for long periods.

Other parents complained that teachers have been neglecting their children, and have made disparaging comments about them.

Chandra Angela Singh said that when she enquired at the school about the performance of her child, she was told by the teacher that the student gave her “stomach aches,” and so she put him to sit at the back of the class. She said that the teacher also refused to present her child’s last report.

The woman said she was forced to take her child out of school and enroll him in a private institution. Now, she said, she is heartened by his performance.

Singh said that, as a result of the change in schools, she has had to return to work to meet the school fees.

Other parents are complaining that teachers are often late for school, and miss several sessions.

Parents say some teachers at the school seem not to be interested in teaching, as often times when they ask their children what they did in school, they reply: “Teacher was not in school.”

A member of the Parent-Teachers Association said that it is unacceptable that, for the last Grade Four Assessment, a mere 40 out of over 100 students performed creditably.

He said the teachers claim they miss classes because they have to go to University, or have “college work” to do. Parents say they have no problems with teachers studying, but in that case adequate arrangements have to be put in place, so their children can benefit from a full day’s work at school.

The parents are also complaining about the poor condition of the school’s sanitary block. The Head Teacher told us to “go and see for yourself; the toilets are working.” Other teachers disagreed, with some saying they often times go home to use their washrooms or ask the neighbours to use their facilities.

When Kaieteur News checked, there was no running water for the toilets, and faeces was in view. However, there is a ready supply of water at the school.

Some teachers who spoke with Kaieteur News said that the toilets can be flushed manually using a bucket, but not many students do so, and that is the reason why the toilets are in such a poor state.

Efforts to contact the Regional Education Officer on the complaints by the parents proved futile.