Principal of Mulo Groot Henar Polder removed from office

The principal of Mulo Groot Henar Polder who on Wednesday shaved the eyebrows of a female student has reportedly been removed from office. Natasia Bennanon, director at the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, pointed out that the principal at the public school for secondary education at junior level on Friday received a letter, informing her that she must report to the ministry. Bennanon also pointed out that the principal had crossed the line. The Education Ministry takes the incident very serious and made it clear that a student’s body may never be ‘touched.’ If a student breaks a rule, there are sufficient ways of tackling this. Teachers have been taught how to handle various situations. The Education director explained that the former principal will be given the opportunity to defend herself. The former principal is expected to present her written response on Monday. Bennanon added that several teachers from Mulo Groot Henar Polder in May 2018 expressed their discontent regarding the performance of the principal. “But Wednesday’s incident was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.” Dayawantie RampersadBadloe, the grandmother of the student whose eyebrows were shaved, strongly condemned the incident and pointed out that the principal could have suspended the girl. A teacher reportedly brought the girl to the principal’s office before going back to class. The principal who was alone with the girl then grabbed a razor blade and held the girl while she started to shave. The girl objected and begged the principal to leave her alone. The principal reportedly responded by telling the girl that she would also cut her hair if she resisted. The girl then stopped offering resistance. Badloe pointed out that things could have gone differently. “The principal could have injured my granddaughter with the razor blade.” The teen student has reportedly been traumatized by the incident and would prefer to stay home instead of attending classes. The girl’s grandmother pointed out that the principal “could also injure children.”