PRIMARY
INSPECTORATE
Year
2008
SCHOOL INSPECTOR – MINORS
(11/11/08)- ALLEGED SEXUAL AGGRESSION
(No. B/1212) Mrs F. Labelle (Third
Member for Vacoas and Floreal) asked the Minister of Education, Culture and
Human Resources whether, in regard to the recent alleged case of sexual
aggression on minors by a school inspector, he will state if his Ministry has
initiated an inquiry in relation to the reported previous alleged cases on
minors by the school inspector, indicating the outcome thereof.
Dr. Bunwaree: Mr Speaker, Sir,
with your permission, I will reply to PQ Nos. B/1212 and B/1252 as they both
relate to the same subject matter.
Regarding the alleged cases of sexual
abuse by teachers on their pupils, I wish to inform the House that my Ministry
is in the presence of seven cases since 2003.
I am informed that three officers have
so far been interdicted in the light of the Police report.
The contract of one officer has been
terminated immediately and two cases are still under enquiry at the Police
Department.
One case is still sub judice before
the District Court. Initially it was a case of “attempt upon chastity”. The
Director of Public Prosecutions has, however, now advised prosecution against
the teacher for “assault”.
As regards the case of sexual abuse on
minors recently reported against a School Inspector, as mentioned in PQ No.
B/1212, there is only one other reported case against that officer. I am advised
that the Superintendent of Police, Plaines Wilhems/Black River had informed my
Ministry on 23 September 1999 that the School Inspector, the then Deputy Head
Teacher posted to H. Chooroomooney Government School, was on 05 August 1999
allegedly involved in a case of sexual abuse. However, my Ministry was informed
on 15 November 2000 by the Commissioner of Police that the Director of Public
Prosecutions had advised no further action into the case of sexual assault
reported against the then Deputy Head Teacher.
I wish to draw the attention of the
House to the fact that my Ministry has started to trace back any other alleged
case of abuse during the previous 53
posting of that officer. However, the
House will understand the practical and legal difficulties in such
cases.
Mr Speaker, Sir, normally whenever any
form of abuse is reported to my Ministry, in accordance with regulation 31(1) of
the Public Service Commission Regulations, the responsible officer, may, where
he is satisfied that the offence is serious enough to warrant interdiction,
interdict an officer immediately from the exercise of the powers and functions
of his office where criminal proceedings are being instituted against the
officer.
Moreover, regulation 32(1) of the
Public Service Commission Regulations provides that “where a preliminary
investigation or disciplinary inquiry discloses that an offence against any law
may have been committed by a public officer, the responsible officer shall
forthwith refer the case to the Commissioner of Police for necessary action”
while, at the same time, interdicting the officer.
However, it is only if, following
Police enquiry, the Director of Public Prosecution does not advise prosecution
that disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a public officer in
accordance with PSC Regulation 37 or 38. I must say that I am having a special
look at this because it defeats its purpose.
I further wish to inform the House
that any pupil who is victim of sexual abuse is, immediately after the
happening, given all possible attention, psychological support and taken good
care of by my Ministry.
As soon as the case is reported to the
Police –
(i) the Educational Psychologist of my
Ministry provides counselling to the child and parents and makes appropriate
recommendations to the Head of School;
(ii) Educational Social Workers of the
National Education Counselling Service of my Ministry conduct home visits to the
family concerned, and
(iii) a Clinical Psychologist of the
Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare provides
psychotherapy to the pupil. 54
Moreover, Mr Speaker, Sir, with the
recent cases of alleged abuse and paedophile, I have instituted a system for the
monitoring of any alleged case, anonymous or otherwise, and a committee is
presently working in close collaboration with stakeholders, especially the team
of psychologists of my Ministry and of the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child
Development and Family Welfare to set up a reliable system to deal with such
matters, especially on the prevention aspect.
Furthermore, we are also working in
collaboration with the Ombudsperson for Children to that regard.
Mrs Labelle: Mr Speaker, Sir,
first of all, may I thank the hon. Minister for the other actions already
initiated. May I ask the hon. Minister whether any particular actions have been
initiated to vulgarise the Section 11 of the Child Protection Act, that is, the
duty to report? Because, too often, the cases are not reported. What is being
done for the personnel of the schools to be aware of the section of this
Act?
Dr. Bunwaree: This is a very
interesting point that has been raised. In fact, we are looking into that and
that committee is working to find ways and means whereby all this can be taken
care of.
Mrs Navarre-Marie: Mr Speaker,
Sir, the hon. Minister spoke about 7 cases which have been reported to the
Ministry. Regarding the 2 cases which are under inquiry and one sub judice, will
the hon. Minister state what action has been taken so far? Have these persons
been requested to step down pending inquiry and Court proceedings being
completed?
Dr. Bunwaree: I don’t know
whether we are allowed to ask them to step down in the sense that the inquiry is
still going on, but they are not working in the same place that they were
supposed to work.
Mr Varma: As regards the school
inspector, could the hon. Minister inform the House what is the provisional
charge which has been lodged against this school inspector and the stage of the
Police inquiry?
Dr. Bunwaree: The inquiry is
still going on. The inspector is still not released on bail.
Mr Varma: May I know about the
provisional charge?
Dr. Bunwaree: I have to look
into that aspect and inform the House. 55
Mrs Hanoomanjee: Mr Speaker,
Sir, the hon. Minister has mentioned the role of social workers. Can I ask him
what is the ratio of social worker to children and does he consider that one
social worker for student population of around 800 is sufficient and sometimes
one for each zone?
Dr. Bunwaree: I don’t have the
figure to reply offhand, I’ll look into this aspect. I am very much sensitive to
what is being said, but I can inform the House that we are doing everything
possible, especially to act on the preventive side, Mr Speaker,
Sir.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun: Mr
Speaker, Sir, the Minister has just mentioned that the teachers who are normally
accused are not allowed to work in the same school. But as he has just mentioned
that he is placing emphasis on prevention, may I ask the hon. Minister whether
he does not consider it quite risky to allow these teachers to remain in contact
with students even though they are in other schools?
Dr. Bunwaree: This is, of
course, another important aspect also, Mr Speaker, Sir, but when they are not
working in another place, they are being followed, I must say, and the
psychologist of the school is also taking that into consideration. In fact, we
should not also forget that these people must have something wrong in their mind
somewhere. We would better consider them as patients at some stage also,
although the law is there to be followed, and whatever wrong has been done will
have to be punished.
Mrs Labelle: Mr Speaker, Sir,
the hon. Minister mentioned that children who have experienced such traumatic
situations are referred to the educational psychologist and it is after that
that they will meet a clinical psychologist. May I ask the hon. Minister whether
he does not think it fit that these children must be referred to a clinical
psychologist in the first instance instead of going to on educational
psychologist because I don’t think it is the job of educational psychologists to
go for therapy?
Dr. Bunwaree: The hon. Member
is right, Mr Speaker, Sir. I have already taken the matter in hand. We are, for
the time being, asking the clinical psychologist who is in the Ministry of
Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare to step in right at the
beginning and, in fact, I am reinforcing the psychologist team of my Ministry to
include clinical psychologists. 56
Mrs Hanoomanjee: The hon.
Minister has mentioned it and it is a pity that now teachers and inspectors are
involved in such acts. But there is a majority of teachers who are there. Does
not the hon. Minister think that a minimum training should be given to teachers
to help them to detect cases of sexual abuse?
Dr. Bunwaree: A lot is being
done at the level of the committee with the help of the psychologist, but the
teachers also have to be involved in training.
Year
2009
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND
HUMAN RESOURCES -
ASIAN LANGUAGES - ASSISTANT
SUPERVISORS (12/05/09)
(No. B/455) Mr S. Naidu (Third
Member for Beau Bassin and Petite
Rivière) asked the Minister of
Education, Culture and Human Resources whether, in regard to the vacancies in
the post of Assistant Supervisors in Asian languages, he will state the number
thereof in each case, indicating –
(a) since when, and
(b) the reasons for the delay in the
filling thereof, if any.
Reply: I am informed that there
are 13 vacancies in all in respect of the post of Assistant Supervisor (Oriental
Language) as at May 2009 out of which 2 in Hindi, 1 in Urdu, 5 in Tamil, 1 in
Telugu, 2 in Marathi, 1 in Arabic and 1 in Mandarin.
As regards part (a) of the question,
the vacancies occurred as from the
following dates in each Oriental
Language:
(i) Hindi since March
2008
(ii) Urdu since August
2008
(iii) Tamil since December
2006
(iv) Telugu since June
2008
(v) Marathi since August
2007
(vi) Arabic since September
2007
(vii) Mandarin since July
2006
The only candidate was appointed
Deputy Head Teacher in December 2007 and will complete her 3 years experience in
December 2010. She will then be able to postulate for the post of Assistant
Supervisor Regarding part (b), I am informed that the Scheme of Service for the
post of Assistant Supervisor (OL) is being reviewed and this is why it has not
been possible to fill vacancies so far. The review has been a lengthy and time
consuming procedure and my Ministry is expediting matters for its finalization
to ensure that recruitment is made by PSC in 2 months
time.
