A recent TikTok video on social media sparked widespread discussions among netizens regarding care for children living with disabilities in schools. The video which went viral shows a teacher dealing unprofessionally with a student with Down syndrome. According to the institute where the incident took place, the teacher was newly recruited and has been terminated from her job following the incident.
In the viral video, the teacher can be seen rudely instructing the student to straighten his body. She also attempts to hit the student while teaching him how to write a number, all while streaming live on TikTok.
The video was shared more than a thousand times on TikTok with many viewers commenting that this behaviour from a teacher, especially towards a child with disability is unacceptable. Others commented that the teacher should be taken to task for displaying such behaviour towards a child with Down syndrome.
The principal of the Draktsho Vocational Training Centre in Trashigang where it happened wrote to BBS saying the teacher was a newly recruited university graduate, who joined the centre only a day before the incident.
The Principal stated that according to the standard protocol of Draktsho, new staff undergo a week-long orientation followed by another week-long period to build rapport with students. She had not been assigned any classes yet and was still in the familiarisation phase.
The management decided to terminate her employment. The centre said it is committed to maintaining high ethical standards and ensuring the well-being of the students.
Phensem Parents Support Group emphasised that this event highlights the necessity of implementing Special Education Needs programmes in all schools across the country. Phensem Parents Support Group is a registered member of the Bhutan Civil Society Network that aspires to create awareness about children’s different abilities and needs, advocate for positive change on the challenges faced and support needed by parents, families, children and persons with disabilities.
“When you see the teacher behaving like that, the first instinct you have is to want to protect your child and not send that child to that school anymore. But that would be immediate reaction. But if you look at the bigger picture, then you are again denying the right to an education. Most of the parents at Phensem, we always worry about our children being bullied by their other classmates. We kind of actually look at the teachers in the school to stop this from happening or teaching the other students how to be inclusive and how to accept a person who is a little different as your own,” said Prashanti Pradhan, Executive Director of Phensem Parents Support Group.
Some parents said that even in schools within the education ministry offering the SEN programme, they often encounter challenges from teachers making unacceptable remarks, and due to the inability to report instances of rude behaviour by teachers towards children with disabilities.
“Parents are very reluctant to report it because their first thought is what if I am told not to bring my child to school anymore. That is the primary thing. Our wish is that every school in Bhutan becomes inclusive, not just schools with SEN programmes like it is at the moment so that when you have a child with a disability so that you don’t have to travel so many kilometers school that offers SEN programme but you should be able to go to the school that is more convenient to you,” added Prashanti Pradhan.
The Hejo ECCD Centre in Thimphu which focuses on inclusive education and has around ten children with disabilities said being with children does get stressful at times for teachers and facilitators.
However, the founder of the centre said that being polite and gentle while interacting with and teaching children with disabilities goes a long way in empowering and supporting children with disabilities, both in schools and early childhood care and development centres.
“What I see is she seems a little bit stressed out and with our line of work, whether we are teacher or facilitator, it does get stressful at times. She seems to be upset with the fact that the kid is not learning the way she is teaching and the fact that the kid is not meeting her expectation and her goal and not the kid’s goal. I think every kid is expecting a fun experience whether they are learning math or whether they are learning the alphabets, whatever it might be. They want to learn it in a fun way. And I don’t see fun in that class. I see stress, stress on her, stress on the kid,” said Yangree Lhazom, founder of Hejo ECCD Centre.
Although the Draktsho Vocational Training Centre is outside its purview, the education and skills development ministry’s ECCD and SEN Division in a written interview said it followed up on how the incident happened, and if adequate awareness and training are being provided to the staff.
It added that to make sure such incidents do not happen in schools, the ministry provides trainings on inclusive education strategies, policies, culture and practices every year. Schools are also sensitised on child protection, behavioural management, assessment for difficulties and possible timely interventions.
The ministry has, so far, established 44 inclusive schools across the country. This excludes Draktsho Vocational Training Centre.
The ministry plans to establish an additional 76 inclusive schools in the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Phub Gyem
