Teacher accused of repeatedly hitting Grade 10 pupil with wooden plank

A Phoenix mother has opened an assault case after alleging that a teacher hit her 16-year-old daughter with a wooden plank at Havenpark Secondary School.

A Phoenix mother has opened an assault case after alleging that a teacher hit her 16-year-old daughter with a wooden plank at Havenpark Secondary School.

The school governing body says it does not condone corporal punishment, while the matter has been referred to the circuit manager.

Krishnee Pillay said her daughter, a Grade 10 pupil, had been in severe pain for almost two weeks after she was allegedly hit on her arm and lower back with the plank.

She said her daughter returned to school on Monday but was still in pain.

“The doctor said she had tissue damage, which could take between eight and 10 weeks to heal, and her lower back is still swollen. She can only take pain medication.”

Pillay said the alleged assault happened when the daughter and fellow pupils were returning to class for a lesson.

“While walking to the classroom, they saw the teacher walk out. Some of her classmates went inside, while others, including my child, remained outside. When they saw the teacher returning, they began entering the class. My daughter and her friend, who were the last two, were stopped by the teacher and asked to wait outside.

“After a few minutes, the teacher went to the classroom door with a wooden plank, believed to be from a desk. Without saying a word, she hit my daughter’s friend once and then struck my daughter on her left arm. She then struck my child more than five times on the left side of her lower back,” she said.

The swelling to the left side of Teral Rampartab’s back after she was allegedly hit by her teacher with a plank.

Pillay said her daughter, who was crying with pain, asked the teacher why she was struck so many times.

“The teacher then told her to return to where she had come from. She went to her form-teacher’s classroom and recounted what happened. She was given a chair to rest and told to return to class when she felt better.”

She said when her daughter returned to class, she was still crying due to the pain.

“The teacher asked her if she wanted a pain tablet, which my daughter declined. She then asked if she wanted a lift home, and she said no. The teacher also asked if she was going to tell staff in the office that she hit her, and my daughter remained silent.”