Teacher being investigated for assaulting student over socks colour

In another unsettling case of violence in schools, the assault of a student at the Bartica Secondary School in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) by a teacher is now being investigated by the Education Ministry.
In the video clip making its rounds on social media on Wednesday, the student is seen seated in a chair while the teacher is shouting, “Take off the socks!” as he points with a ruler. The student attempts to stand a few times, but is shoved into the seat. As the teacher grabs his foot in an attempted to forcibly remove the socks, the student lands on his back.
This publication understands that the socks worn by the student were not in keeping with the school’s dress code.
This newspaper was told that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
In the past two years, the reports of violence in schools have increased, and teachers, students and parents have been involved in such cases. Last year, Education Minister Priya Manickchand had warned teachers against abusing or beating students in the classrooms, as she urged them to find new and civilised disciplinary methods.
Moreover, she had sounded a warning that the Ministry will go after teachers displaying such behaviour.
“It is not the Ministry of Education alone that will come after you, because we will come after you! It’s a different order in the world. People are going to demand more of you, because people want to see a better world, a better country,” Manickchand was quoted as saying.
A new policy is being created by the Education Ministry to address violence in schools amid an uptick in such incidents. It seeks to not only cover violence in schools, but identify vulnerable students on both sides of the spectrum – those who are likely to commit a violent act, and those who might be harmed by such. (G12)