TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: After Herald’s report on the “plight” of students of Sharada English School, Sanvordem, a teacher has mustered courage to come out and speak against the reported assault.
The physical education teacher has written to Herald about several incidents of assault and abuse of students. He has provided copies of complaints which students had made to the Director of Education (DoE) not once, but twice, since September.
The teacher claims that he has also lodged several complaints of harassment with the DoE and the police, but no action has been taken. In one of his complaints, he alleged that the school headmistress Smita Kamat had demanded bribe of Rs 6 lakh from a teacher.
In his letter to Herald, the teacher has claimed that the headmistress has been abusing him, threatening to make false allegations and not allowing him to sign the register. He added, “I am being harassed for being a whistleblower.”
Four complaints by the aggrieved students and teachers, including a complaint by a Class X student have been filed with the DoE, but no action has been taken. In a complaint, a girl has claimed Ms Kamat had once said, “You will get AIDS if you speak to boys”.
A complaint signed by at least 16 students has already been forwarded to the DoE in Porvorim. The teacher has requested for help in highlighting their plight and pleaded with the authorities to stop the assault.
