Education officials probe teacher’s action following student’s suicide

Sep 16, 2015 News

The suicide of a male student of a lower Corentyne Secondary School last week prompted officials of the Region Six Department of Education, together with officials of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), to launch an investigation into the actions of a teacher.
According to reports it was believed that the teacher had publicly embarrassed the student for a misdemeanor. This embarrassment might have triggered him to take his own life.
Reports are that the third form student in question was accused of touching the breast of a female classmate. The incident was reported to the Deputy Head of the school. While there are allegations that the teacher might have upbraided the child in the presence of other students, this publication was informed that the investigation proved otherwise.
This however is not the version that was fed to the parents of the now dead student. According to reports circulating on social media, the parents are convinced that the actions of the teacher led to the death of their son.
“They heard this from some people and they are going to the media and saying what they heard…as a matter of fact, the father was in the media saying that the teacher is responsible for his son’s death,” an education official said.
But based on the findings of the investigation, the officials are claiming that there is no proof to suggest that the teacher’s action led to the student’s death. It was reportedly found that the teacher had dealt with the matter quietly which translated into her upbraiding him alone in a room.
Although the account is reportedly only that of the teacher, she is adamant that she did not embarrass the student.
This publication was informed that a team of officials including the Regional Education Officer, the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, the School’s Welfare Office, an Education Officer and a representative of the GTU, were inclined to believe the account of the teacher.
It has been recommended that the findings of the investigation be made public but reports reaching this publication suggest that this may not occur. At the same time some education officials are worried that non-disclosure could leave persons with more questions than answers.
The student’s encounter with his female classmate occurred last week Wednesday and was believed to have been settled by the Deputy Head Teacher. However, the following day the student was found hanging in his father’s garage.
“It is very disturbing that teachers who are supposed to be moulding lives, are instead, helping to take lives and we need to have situations like these addressed,” an official told this publication.
The state of affairs is one that is expected to see keen efforts being directed towards sensitizing both teachers and students about the whole issue of mental health, which has been plaguing the wider society.

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Education officials probe teacher’s action following student’s suicide

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