Teachers warned not to abuse students

By GLORIA BAUAI
MOROBE education programme adviser Keith Tangui has warned teachers not to abuse the trust of their students.
It follows reports of two separate allegations this month of rape and corporal punishment in two schools in the province.
Tangui said according to police reports, a teacher at Nawaeb Lutheran High School allegedly beat up a student with a stick.
At Wasu Secondary, a teacher was attacked by male students for the alleged sexual abuse of female students.
“Sexual harassment and corporal punishment are both forbidden by law and any teacher caught committing an offence on a student will be immediately terminated,” he said.
“Every new teacher is inducted with the Education Act and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act. And when these acts are breached, the TSC will require a report.”
Tangui said a senior officer from the provincial education division visited Wasu last weekend and would file a report to the provincial education board for deliberation.
“At the moment, the Wasu case is a criminal case and we’ll let police investigate it,” he said.
“If the teacher was at fault, we will have the TSC Act apply.
“We have the TSC adviser who will talk with the TSC chairman so bold decisions can be sought.
“Students are placed in our care and (they) look up to us as their educators and parents.
“Do not abuse that trust.
“We want students to be safe, protected and looked after.”