Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, on Friday gave teachers and trainee teachers a stern warning about “beating children black and blue” in the classrooms.
Manickchand, while addressing trainee teachers at Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara), reminded teachers that they are responsible for nurturing children.
Therefore, she said, their attitudes and behaviours at school- whether good or bad- will leave a mark on the students in their classrooms.
Just last week, a teacher at the Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) was accused of severely beating pupils.
After this incident was publicised on Facebook, Manickchand expressed her dismay.
“You can’t beat people’s children black and blue. You can’t abuse people’s children and believe somehow or the other, that is the way.
“You must inform yourselves of what is the new civilized behaviour,” Manickchand told the teachers.
Further, teachers were warned that not only will the Ministry respond to reports of children being abused in classrooms but the parents will also hold them accountable for their actions.
“People are going to demand more of you because people want to see a better world and country.
“When you get into the classroom you have to understand that every single child in there could be adversely affected by your terrible attitude or really feel like the most valued human on earth by your attitude. It’s not how you teach, it’s how you make children feel,” she explained.
It is important to note that Guyana signed onto the United Nations (UN) Rights of the Child Convention which sets out universal legal standards for the protection of children against neglect, abuse and exploitation. It also guarantee children their basic human rights.