The Education Minister, Thakur Singh Powdyel, said the story of a contract teacher involved in use of syringe to punish students, was not as serious as it was made out to be.
“There was a rather serious looking story reported in one of the local papers. But when we actually investigated the incident it appears that it was not at all as serious as it was made out to be,” said the Minister.
The contract teacher of Budhashi Community Primary School in Zhemgang was relieved of his duties with effect from end of last month after the investigation.
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The story disturbed a lot of parents and all of us at the education ministry were greatly alarmed.”
Thakur Singh Powdyel
Education Minister
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Before the teacher was relieved, the education ministry launched a series of investigation and found out that the teacher did use the syringe to poke the children. “There was not water used as it was alleged to have been used,” said the Minister.
Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel also said not a single child was admitted in the hospital or the BHU because of anything the teacher had done.
However, Lyonpo reiterated, that the fact the teacher used the syringe was bad enough. “We do not condone it, we deeply regret it.”
He said they are concerned that the teacher should have used very unacceptable method on his children. “We have been left with no option but to relieve the contract teacher because we cannot have such a practice in the schools,” said Lyonpo, “It is against the teachers’ code of conduct and principles of education.”