21 August 2007
opinion
Port Louis — The question of the safety of pupils and teachers is becoming a matter of concern these days. Our society has undergone such changes that people have started reacting violently - both verbally and physically.
For years the issue has been raised by progressive trade unionists that security officers ought to have been posted at each school. Primary schools are the only public places where there are no security officers. We have witnessed too many cases where teachers and pupils have been assaulted by members of the public.
The teacher today is widely exposed to the whims and caprices of members of the public. It is disappointing that in the last budget no provision has been made for the posting of security officers in schools.
Headteachers were greatly revolted by the remarks made by a trade unionist that there is violence in schools because headteachers attend school only 2 or 3 days a week. It is a very simplistic, silly and irrelevant remark. The question of violence in schools ranges far beyond the question of headteachership.
Any member of the public can have access to schools and assault a teacher or pupil just because there are no security officers to prevent them doing so.
Very often it happens that when a child hurts another one, the parents of the second child come to seek revenge. The ministry should start doing preparatory work to explain these issues to parents.
Teachers' Force
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