Dominica: The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) and the representative body of teachers at the Government-owned Dominica Grammar School (DGS), is calling for swift action to deal with a matter where a student is alleged to have used a stick and struck a male teacher on his head, according to a report on the Dominica News Online.
Fari Winston, a teacher at the DGS for over five years said that on Tuesday, he tried to apprehend a student who reacted violently towards him. “He grabbed my collar and when I released him, he went for a piece of wood with a nail in it when he came back he struck me with it on my head.” Winston recounted. He told the DNO that he feels “very hurt” about the incident and does not have words to describe the episode. “This is the worst that I have seen and trust me I have seen a lot from all the schools, I am concerned about the state of security at the school for teachers,” he stated.
Winston received seven stitches to his head and recalled that he was also bleeding through his nose and was forced to return to the hospital for further medical attention and was asked to take a CT scan for which he has no money. “The situation is grave…..I was asked to take a CT scan after bleeding today through my nose and experiencing dizziness at school, the scan cost EC$500.00 and I have no money and no one at the hospital is prepared to assist saying it must be paid before the scan is done,” he said with a sigh.
The DNO report said the DPSU General Secretary, Thomas Letang, has advised the teachers to sit in the staff room and demand a meeting with education officials. “I have advised them that they need to inform the principal that they need to meet education officials to discuss the matter and that tomorrow morning when they come to work; they do not enter the classroom,” the trade union leader said.
He said that from what he was learning, students are behaving in an unruly manner daily at the DGS, and security persons are complaining that it is difficult for them and kids are getting out of hand and threatening teachers.
“When parents are called the support is not always forthcoming. The situation is serious and grave, teachers are uncomfortable and the Ministry needs to seriously intervene now before it further escalates,” the DPSC General Secretary stated. Letang said that it was too early to speak of industrial action.
However he urged the Ministry of Education “to let common sense prevail” and see that the teachers are allowed to function under more secure conditions. “Teachers say they are frightened and I am hoping that the PTA, Teachers, Police and all stake holders will come (together) and deal with the matter because it is definitely getting out of hand. Teachers are being threatened daily and are afraid and say they just can’t function in that environment,” Letang said.
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