“Reprehensible” act of assaulting teachers will not be condoned – Education Ministry

The Education Ministry on Wednesday evening expressed grave concern over the physical assault of graduate teacher Shawn Marshall, who is attached to Graham’s Hall Primary by a parent whose child attends the school.
In a statement, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain said, “Whatever the circumstances, it is a reprehensible and ghastly act. It is unacceptable and will not be condoned in the least.”
According to the Ministry, schools are considered safe spaces and any act of violence is deemed totally unacceptable.
“When parents or guardians are engaged in violent acts against teachers, it goes against established values, norms, and expectations. We cannot beat teachers and then ask them to teach our children peaceful conflict resolution,” the CEO said, adding that the Ministry will, therefore, take all appropriate actions to ensure that all teachers continue to work in a safe and secured environment.
Such actions, it noted, include prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises, transferring any learner whose parents commit acts of violence on teachers or any other sanction deemed necessary, while encouraging the Police or any other institution or authority to take whatever action the law prescribes.
The CEO reminded all parents and guardians that in any instance where an incident occurs with a teacher, the matter must be brought to the attention of the head teacher or teacher in-charge of the school or institution.
Attacks on teachers by parents and guardians and even in some cases students themselves at places of learning have been a cause for concern over the years.