The police in Trinidad and Tobago are now investigating an incident in which a secondary school teacher and a male student exchanged fisticuffs, injuring one another.
Assistant Commissioner of Police South/Central, Wayne Mystar, confirmed that the police had waded into the ugly incident at the Moruga Secondary School, Tompierre Trce, Basseterre, Trinidad and Tobago.
According to Guardian Media, it was the second violent incident involving a teacher and student at the school in a week.
The teacher and the student engaged in physical combat which was recorded by students on their cellphones and released on social media on Friday.
The fight appeared to have taken place in an auditorium and led to the two crashing to the floor as they tackled each other.
In one of the videos, the student complained that the teacher cuffed him in his face and he was not “taking that.”
Another video shows the teacher bleeding from his nose with bruises on his cheek and lip.
Mystar told Guardian Media that the police were in possession of the videos and he had instructed his officers to visit the school on Monday to interview the principal, those involved, other students and witnesses.
He said, “This type of behaviour will not be tolerated. We will be conducting a thorough investigation into this matter. “
Commenting on the incident via WhatsApp Messenger, Education Minister Dr Dolly Gadsby-Dolly said the ministry received a preliminary report and had requested a more detailed one.
Meanwhile, Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin described the fight as troubling and deeply alarming. She said it points to a larger issue within the school, which has been grappling with a history of violence, tension and academic non-performance.
“Over the past few months, I have received troubling reports from concerned parents and students alleging incidents of victimisation by certain teachers at the school. While these claims are yet to be substantiated, they paint a worrying picture of an environment that may no longer feel safe or conducive to learning for many of our children.”
Urging intervention from the ministry and other authorities, she called for an independent investigation, counselling and intervention programme for students and teachers and the review and strengthening of disciplinary and conflict resolution.
Benjamin urged all parties involved to exercise patience and understanding while the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the grandmother of a 15-year-old student complained to Guardian Media that last week he was assaulted by a male teacher.
The teenager suffered a swollen forehead. However, she said her grandson did not retaliate.
The 62-year-old grandmother said she made a report at the school and the police station.
“People are making all kind of comments in this matter (the videos showing the teacher and student fighting) but they don’t know what really cause this. There are some nice teachers at the school, but just like the police, there are good officers and bad officers, there are good teachers and bad teachers. They not supposed to put their hand on nobody children,” she complained.
Guardian Media reached out to T&T Unified Teachers Association president Martin Lum Kin but got no response up to press time.
See a clip from the incident here.
