President: Teachers have every right to discipline students
President Maithripala Sirisena said on Tuesday he would stand up for teachers, who faced difficulties by trying to correct students for their own future’s sake.
“No one will be allowed to hide behind laws, rights or privileges to promote indiscipline or misbehaviour,” he said addressing the annual prize giving of Asoka Vidyalaya held at the BMICH.
President Sirisena said the society would prey on weaker sections in society and children were a prime target of those wicked elements. The only way to avoid becoming a victim was to excel in education.
“Not only have your parents, but the teachers and the government, contributed heavily to make you a valuable citizen,” he said.
Recalling a recent incident in a school, where a student brought a mobile phone with adult content to the classroom,
When I got to know about this unfortunate incident, I requested him not to resign and I have called for a report after a thorough investigation on the incident
President Sirisena said when the class teacher checked the contents of the phone the teacher was furious.
“The teacher smashed the mobile phone on the floor. The student had gone home after school and complained to his father about the incident. The father lodged a complaint with the Police against the teacher. The Teacher has insulted the student by his act, the father stated in the complaint.
“The teacher being helpless has decided to resign from teaching probably thinking that where our students go and where a teacher could find refuge when he was confronted by short sighted parents for disciplining their errant children,” the President said.
‘When I got to know about this unfortunate incident, I requested him not to resign and I have called for a report after a thorough investigation on the incident,” President Sirisena added.
He said he was severely beaten with a cane by the principal of the Thopawewa Maha Vidyalaya in Polonnaruwa once and he did not know why he was beaten like that to date and he did not complain to his parents on the punishment. Reminding the stern punishment the student received from teachers in his day, President urged both parents and students not to use Rights and Privileges in the modern-day society in a wrong way.
President Sirisena was received by Principal Y. Yasarathna and the staff of the School at the BMICH. The Scouts of the Asoka Vidyalaya accorded a Guard of Honour to the President.