Latest update March 20th, 2025 3:47 AM
Fewer teachers being assaulted – GTU
There has been a decrease in the number of reports of teachers being assaulted by their students.
This assertion was made yesterday by Coretta McDonald, Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), who said during an interview with Kaieteur News that this is as a result of a new system which was put in place several months ago.
McDonald explained that at present, students who continue to portray violent behavior are transferred to other schools where authorities are stricter and more alert.
GTU Secretary, Coretta McDonald
She noted that this has been working well, stressing that reports on the number of teachers being assaulted by students have significantly lessened.
Beginning last year Guyana saw an upsurge in the number of teachers being assaulted by their students, which President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, Colin Bynoe described as a “dangerously worrying trend.”
Bynoe had expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact that cases of teachers being assaulted by students are being prolonged, while just a mere claim of a teacher assaulting a student would result in teachers being brought almost immediately before the Teaching Service Commission.
Just recently, Carmelita Hackim, a teacher of the Skeldon Primary School expressed dissatisfaction at the way a matter was handled at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where assault charges brought against a parent by a teacher were dismissed after nearly two years.
The 28-year-old teacher claimed that she was hit on the back and arm, following which she suffered a miscarriage.
Hackim had provided this newspaper with a medical certificate showing a miscarriage after being more than two months pregnant. The parent had refuted all of the allegations.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, had given her support, stating that the perpetrator “should face the full force of the law”.
A very dissatisfied Hackim said that she has not had the desired support of the GTU. However, Ms. McDonald refuted this, stating that as far as she knows, the GTU representative in Region Six has been in communication with Hackim.
“I feel insulted because (the parent) has something to laugh about and we as teachers, we don’t have any value. This thing really took a toll on me…to go through all this and face all this and to just stand up and hear that the case was dismissed,” Hackim complained.
Hackim has since resigned from the teaching profession and has started her own play school in Corriverton.
Earlier this year, GTU President, Bynoe described the process of teachers getting justice in cases of assault as being “too long and drawn out”.
Bynoe explained that a formally reported case of a teacher being assaulted would see the Regional Education Office carrying out a series of investigations, after which it would be decided whether or not the matter should be brought before the courts, where it would be further prolonged.
He maintained that no student should retaliate against any teacher, and that if this phenomenon continues, it will pave the way for other students to physically act out against their teachers.
He noted that there are scenarios where students would be on the streets “boasting and bragging” about beating their teacher. Such cases, he said, would diminish teachers’ motivation, something that is “very worrying, taking into consideration that teachers mold the existence of every other career.”
Bynoe noted that while such incidents occur in all parts of the country at the various schools, there are certain institutions that can be pinpointed for the rampant reports in this regard.
He said that just as the law emphasizes the rights of children, considerations need to be taken to address the safety of teachers in the system at a higher level.
“If not addressed soon, and effectively, the issue of teachers being assaulted would lead to a bad situation where a breakdown between students and teachers will most likely occur, resulting in a decline of the educational values in future generations.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
No immigrant should feel safe in America today
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There was a time when an illegal immigrant in America could live in the shadows with some... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
