Chennai: A school teacher in neighbouring Kancheepuram district has been booked by police and suspended by the district education department for corporal punishment meted out to class 2 students in a primary school two days ago.
On Tuesday, K. Godavari (46), a teacher at the Kattankulathur panchayat union elementary school, had reportedly chided the students, all aged 6 for making the classroom untidy. After school hours on Tuesday, the teacher had asked students to clean up the room. When students replied in negative and told the teacher that they would do it tomorrow as class hours were over, Godavari had caned them.
Seven children, including four girls, suffered injuries. When the students reported what happened at school, the parents rushed to the school to question the teacher. Since the school was closed, the children were taken to the Chengalpet Medical college hospital where two girls were admitted for treatment while others were treated as outpatients.
Meanwhile, Kancheepuram district chief educational officer Thiruvalarselvi summoned the school teacher for an enquiry after irate parents gathered outside the school on Wednesday demanding action against the teacher.
Education department sources told DC that the teacher accepted to have caned the children, after which the CEO ordered for her suspension. “Initially, when the information started spreading, the department thought it was a hoax. But, after enquiry, we found it to be true and it is unnecessary to mete out such treatment to such young children,” a senior education department official said.
