Warrap school suspends teacher for impregnating pupil
July 13, 2013 (JUBA) – A primary school teacher has been suspended in South Sudan’s Warrap state for allegedly impregnating a pupil, according to the parent-teacher association at the school in Akoc.
“We have since referred the matter to the county education office for further action,” he added.
Santino Deng, a senior official at the state ministry of social welfare and development, also condemned the teacher’s behaviour.
“I condemn this act for various reasons. Firstly, the teacher is a duty bearer. He has a responsibility of ensuring that the child’s right to education is promoted and protected. Human rights are indivisible. You cannot promote a child’s right to development, for instance; without the child’s right to education,” Deng told Sudan Tribune from Kuacjok, Warrap’s capital.
“By impregnating his pupil, the teacher has violated the child’s right to education. This is unfortunate and must be condemned”, he said on Saturday.
He called on the police to investigate the matter.
“If the girl is below 18 years; it will be a case of defilement. But if the girl is above that age, it will be a case of sexual abuse,” he said. “So there’s [a] need for the police to do their investigations thoroughly. This case might just be a criminal case.”
The suspension of the teacher by the district education board was justified, he said, as it would pave the way for investigations and serve as a warning to other teachers.
Deng said it was unethical for teachers to engage in sexual relationships with their pupils. The official said the law does not permit teachers to have sexual relationships with learners.
The area’s commissioner, Malek Riing, in a separate interview, said he heard of the incident but that he was still waiting for an official report and briefing by the county education office about the steps they have taken to address the issue.
“I heard the issue but did not receive any official report until this moment. I am still waiting for the report from the payam [district] administrator and the county education authority. I cannot comment before I get the real information”, Riing told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
Sudan Tribune was also not able to independently verify the claim made by the local authorities, despite attempts to reach the state minister of education and the minister of social welfare and development over the issue.
(ST)