PUPIL GIVEN 25 STROKES, BREAKS FINGERS

MBABANE – While corporal punishment was banned in public schools, a 12-year-old pupil of Mkhuzweni Primary School received 25 strokes as chastisement from her teacher.

So serious were the injuries sustained by *Nonhle such that her fingers were fractured and she had to be taken to hospital, where her wrist had to be put in plaster of paris.
Narratinag the incident, his father, *Mandla, stated that the pupil had an asthma attack on the morning and she had to go to hospital and as a result she missed classes.

 He stated that he received a call from the school informing him that his daughter had an asthma attack. He then asked for her to be given a refundable E30 to get to where he was so he could take her to hospital.
The father said little did she know that missing classes was going to lend her (daughter) in trouble.

Dlamini stated that information he got from his child was that, the following morning, when she went to class, her teacher had a quiz prepared based on what was learnt the previous day, only to find that she did not know a thing.
The quiz had 25 questions and a wrong answer came with one stroke.

Nohle got all 25 strokes as she obtained zero in the quiz.
This resulted in her sustaining serious injuries such that she fractured some of her fingers.  She was not the only one who was punished as her other classmates received 18- 20 strokes depending on how many questions they did not get right.
A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said other parents came to complain to the school’s head teacher about the beating of their children.

Angry

Dlamini stated that he was angry and disappointed by the act of the teacher as he said the child could not do anything due to the injuries she sustained from the beating.
 He further stated that if he could, he would fire the teacher as her act did not prove to be the one of a teacher.
He said the duty of a teacher was to teach, not to ‘break’ children’s fingers. He further mentioned that she (teacher) was out there enjoying her money while he was paying for medical expenses.   
What worried Mandla was how his daughter would be able to write.

He further explained that the seriousness of the issue led to the hospital demanding a letter from the police that would allow them to treat the child. He stated that he went to the Mafutseni Police Station to report the matter.
When the implicated teacher was called for comment, she hung up on this reporter and ignored further calls.

The Regional Education Officer of Manzini, Mlimi Mamba, confirmed to have attended to the case. He further stated that he had nothing much to say as the matter was now in court.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the matter being reported at the Mafutseni Police Station and further stated that investigations were ongoing.
This incident follows that of another teacher who was alleged to have given six pupils 20 strokes on the buttocks.

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