An Alexandria teacher is being investigated by the Eastern Cape Education Department after she allegedly slapped a pupil in the face – he then staggered backwards and hit his face on the side of a desk – leaving him with eight stitches.
The father, 38, whose identity is being withheld to protect the child, said his six-year-old son was too scared to return to the school.
A case was opened against the teacher at the Alexandria police station on June 14 – a day after the alleged incident at Island Primary School.
“The teacher grabbed my son and [allegedly] slapped him in the face in front of other children,” the father said yesterday. “He staggered back and hit a desk.” He was told about the alleged incident by his son, who is in Grade R, and nine-year-old daughter, who also attends the school.
According to the father, the teacher cleaned the blood off his son’s face at a nearby tap and put a plaster on the wound.
She then drove the boy and his sister home, telling their grandmother that he had accidentally hit his head.
The little boy was later taken to the Port Alfred Hospital, where he was given eight stitches.
“I am very troubled by her [alleged] conduct. We regard schools as a safe place,” the father said.
“Children are not expected to return home with injuries, particularly at the hands of their teachers.“The worst part of it is that she lied when she dropped the child off.”
He said the teacher had allegedly slapped his son after he failed to copy something correctly from the chalk board.
The teacher failed to answer her phone or respond to text messages seeking comment yesterday.
Eastern Cape education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “Corporal punishment is no longer [legal].
“We will investigate the case and strong action will be taken against the perpetrator.”
Khula Community Development Project director Petros Majola said he would be reporting the teacher to the South African Council of Educators.
“Our organisation fights for the rights of children,” he said.
“Corporal punishment is no longer administered in schools.
“We will ensure she is reported and charged internally and criminally,” Majola said.
Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender confirmed that a case had been opened.