Grade One learner assaulted with lunch box container
The child's mother said all she wants is for the assistant teacher and school to be held accountable.
Tsakani – An assistant teacher at Shadrack Mbambo Primary is in hot water after she allegedly assaulted a Grade One learner with a lunchbox container for playing with whiteboard marker cleaning fluid.
The learner had to be rushed to the local clinic for medical treatment because she sustained injuries to her head.
Since the incident, the learner has been struggling in class. Her class teacher advised her mother to have the child examined.
The learner’s mother, Mpho Mahlangu, said her daughter has been experiencing recurring severe headaches since the incident.
“Her teacher recommended that I have her evaluated to determine her learning limitations. The hospital asked that the teacher write a recommendation letter detailing her challenges in class, but she keeps telling me she does not want to be involved.
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“I don’t know what to do as the school refuses to help me, and the doctors also cannot help me without the letter,” she explained.
She added after the African Reporter contacted the Gauteng Department of Education about the matter; the school called her to a meeting on September 6.
“The school offered to take my daughter to hospital for examination but refuses to take accountability for the incident.
“All I want is for the assistant teacher and school to be held accountable and for them to give me the recommendation the hospital needs to facilitate the examination,” she added.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were aware and extremely disappointed by this alleged case of an assault on the learner by the assistant teacher at the school.
“Information at our disposal revealed the school and the mother of the affected learner held a meeting on September 6.
“As the department, we take the safety of all our learners seriously. Disciplinary action is a possibility, pending the outcome of the investigations,” he said.
He added the department dispatched its psycho-social unit to the school to offer counselling and interventions.
