The Block Education Officer (BEO), who probed allegations of misconduct by a physical education instructor in a school on Kanakapura Road, has recommended action against the teacher.
In a report submitted to the Commissioner for Public Instruction (CPI) on Wednesday, BEO (South Range 1) K. Prakash has said that all the girl students had unanimously stated that they did not want the physical education instructor to take classes for them.
CPI Mohammad Mohsin said: “All the students’ statements have been the same — they mention that the teacher would stare at them — and they do not want him to continue.”
ADVERTISEMENT
However, authorities refused to reveal what action has been recommended.
The teacher had been ‘sent on long leave’ by the management since July 24.
While the management claimed that the decision followed a complaint by a student that he was ‘staring’ at her, parents alleged that it was not a one-off incident and that several girls had complained of sexual assault. Sources said that it appeared like school authorities tried to hush up the issue at every step. “The school authorities initially even refused to allow the BEO inside,” a source said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Talking about the next step, Mr. Prakash said that a copy of the report would be submitted to the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR). Fr. Edward Thomas, member, KSCPCR said that the investigation would be taken over by the police as the BEO’s report had found sufficient evidence that there was more to the incident than ‘mere staring’.
“We will pass on the information to the police on Thursday. The support staff of the Child Welfare Committee would assist the police in the investigation,” he said.
Repeated attempts to get a response from the school management went in vain.