Girl, 6, fondled

"Taken from our C R I M E section."

A PRIMARY schoolteacher of Central Trinidad who is wanted by the police in connection with sexually assaulting a six-year-old female pupil is expected to surrender to the police on Monday. Police said yesterday that an attorney, acting on the teacher’s behalf, telephoned the Couva Police Station yesterday. The attorney told investigators the teacher would visit the station on Monday.

A warrant was issued earlier this week for the teacher’s arrest. He is expected to be charged with indecent assault. The incident was reported on June 17 by the girl’s mother.

For several days the teacher, of Freeport, who was said to be in his mid-50s, was sought by the police.

The girl reported that she and her classmates were entering their classroom on June 16, after the recess break, when the teacher called her to his table. The First Year pupil told police the teacher put his hand under her uniform and fondled her. The teacher then instructed her to go to her desk and draw in her book, a police report said.

The case has sparked concerns by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) and the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) about the rise in reports of sexual molestation in schools.

TTUTA president Clyde Permell yesterday said the association condemned all acts of sexual molestation and “views them as a breach of trust between student and teacher.” Establishing trust between student and teacher, he said in a release, is a fundamental principle of teaching and learning. Permell called upon the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education to begin consultation on how sexual allegations are investigated so the accused can be removed from the classrooms. On a cautious note, Permell said anyone who is accused must be presumed innocent until guilt was proven. “Our emotions must not allow us to descend into mob rule”. he said.

President of the NPTA Zena Ramatali, told Newsday that the latest case presented an opportunity for the ministry to look at schools with a critical eye to ascertain the suitability of teachers, recommending evaluation and counselling.

Ramatali said the ministry should deal with complaints in a timely manner and hoped sexual perpetrators are dealt with quickly.