Cell phone sex

MARABELLA police are investigating a report that a secondary school teacher assaulted a pupil who caught him (the teacher) showing pornography to female students on a cellular phone.

Ministry of Education Communications Specialist Mervyn Crichlow, told Newsday yesterday that the ministry has since launched an investigation into the incident.

A party of police officers visited the school and questioned teachers as well as students about the incident.

President of the Parent/Teachers Association, Zena Ramatally, said yesterday she intends to raise the issue of banning the use of cell phones by teachers and students during school time. Ramatally commented yesterday: “We cannot allow cell phones to lead to other forms of indiscipline.”

Critchlow said, “All incidents of pornography are investigated by both the police and the ministry. The ministry is fine-tuning a policy on cell phone use in all schools.”

Police said yesterday they visited the Secondary school after two reports were made to the station that a male teacher had beaten up a pupil on Friday last.

According to the police report, the student had caught the teacher showing pictures of naked women which were on his cell phone, to female students.

According to the report, the student reported the incident to the principal. The report stated that after the student made the report, the teacher assaulted him.

Police said the pupil visited the station accompanied by one of his parents, and filed a report on Friday. The student also visited the station yesterday about the matter. Police officers from the Marabella Police Station have questioned the teacher and other persons about the incident.

Commenting on the issue, Ramatally said, “If that incident is true, this teacher should be disciplined. This is totally unacceptable.”

Ramatally commented that teachers ought to exercise more discretion with cell phones during school hours. The PTA President suggested that the two competing telecommunications moguls — TSTT and Digicel — should channel some of its funds into sensitising parents, children, teachers and principals on issues, such as pornography.