CONTRARY to social-media reports, the male Moruga Secondary School teacher seen defending a female student during an attack by a schoolmate in viral videos has not been suspended.
TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Martin Lum Kin dispelled the rumour saying his last update from school staff on the evening of April 6 said the teacher had not been reprimanded.
Police sources told Newsday investigations were ongoing and interviews were being done.
The Ministry of Education and its minister, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, continue to remain silent. Newsday has made several attempts to reach Gadsby-Dolly on the matter. Calls and messages have gone unanswered.
Newsday first tried on April 6 and again on April 7. In the recent message, Newsday asked the minister for an update on whether any student had been reprimanded for the violent outburst and to comment on the veracity of the social media claim the teacher was suspended.
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The ministry's corporate communications department had not issued a statement on the fight. It sent out two invitations on April 6 and 7 inviting the media to cover a district music concert for primary schools.
In the viral videos, three female students were seen attacking another female student, kicking, punching and slapping her on the floor and using common items in the classroom as weapons. The male teacher used a blue broom handle to shield the female student from her attackers who threw a bin at him and even tried hitting him as well.
The teacher has since been hailed as a hero on social media. While Lum Kin commended the teacher, the TTUTA president warned teachers from intervening in similar incidents, especially male staffers in instances where the students are female.
“Our male counterparts must be careful as accusations of improper touching can be made against the teacher. Additionally, teachers can be accused of using excessive force in intervening.
“We advise members to seek the assistance of security officers, safety officers and deans at secondary schools.”
He said the video re-emphasised the union’s concern about the level of anger and violence being perpetrated by nation’s children.
