TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: In a shocking incident, the headmistress of a primary school in Porvorim has been accused of causing injuries to a six-year-old boy on Friday, after he failed to write down an answer to a question.
Narrating the sequence of events to Herald, Alina Couto stated that her son, a Std 1 student at Young Achiever’s Primary School in Porvorim, was forced to sit on the wet floor for the simple reason that he was unable to write fast enough.
“When my son got up from the floor, the school headmistress, Valery Pinto, made him sit in the toilet. Further, when my son tried to come out of the toilet, the headmistress pushed him with force, due to which he fell down and in the process, banged his head on the floor. When my son started crying, the headmistress called me to the school,” the mother complained.
Couto further claimed that she had registered her protest with the school management for the ill-treatment meted to her son.
“I then took my son to a doctor who confirmed that the injury was minor and assured there was nothing to worry about. Later, I went to the Porvorim police station, where I was advised to settle the matter amicably since the future of the student is involved,” stated Couto.
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When asked to comment in the incident, Pinto stated that the students were asked to write down an answer to a question.
“The answer contained only four words. While other students wrote down the answer, the boy was found not writing at all, despite repeated requests. He was then asked to stand near the wash basin and I asked the staff to call his mother,” explained Pinto.
“This incident has taught me that teachers should not be strict with the students. I have committed the mistake and I have also learned the lesson. I have called for the meeting of the staff on Saturday to tell them not to pressurize students to do the work and we will also call their parents and explain the facts,” added the headmistress.
“I have also been called by the Porvorim police on Saturday and I will explain the facts and if required, I will tender an apology,” said Pinto.
