Guardians turning predators on the rise

Child protection experts stress the need for screening processes when recruiting teachers, scout and cadet masters, principals, hostel wardens and staff of child care institutions and orphanages

Mahara Magistrate Dharshika Wimalasiri last week refusing a request for bail in a case where a teacher had allegedly molested female students, told police they had to be more assertive about child abuse cases and not consider it as a petty crime.

The magistrate made these comments when the police failed to provide a follow up report in a case where a physical training instructor of a government school in Thambuttegama was arrested by Biyagama Police last month for allegedly taking nude pictures of four female students after taking them to a motel in Biyagama.

The suspect was remanded till October 7.

According to police the 33- year- old suspect had informed the girls’ parents that their 15 year- olds were being taken to Colombo for fitness tests. The suspect had allegedly molested two of the girls. Nude pictures of the schoolgirls were also saved in the suspect’s laptop. Similar cases have been reported throughout this year. In one, a tuition teacher offering scholarship examination classes was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing 11 grade four students of a junior school in Galkiriyagama.

Similarly, another suspect who had sexually abused two under- aged girls ( 11 and 12 year olds) from a school near Kottawa was arrested.

According to police the parents had lodged a complaint after the principal had transferred the suspect to another classroom instead of reporting the incident to police.

In another incident, Yatiyantota police arrested a 35 year- old school teacher for allegedly molesting four grade six students.

There were many reported cases of molestation last year too. A 47year- old male principal was arrested for allegedly sexually molesting five girls in Marawila and a teacher of a leading school in Veyangoda was suspended and the principal transferred, after there were complaints that some female students had been molested by the teacher.

In another instance Ududumbara police arrested a 53- year- old vice principal for allegedly showing pornography to his students from his computer and allegedly molesting two students aged 13 and 15 years old.

Police also arrested a 35- year- old male tuition teacher in Bodhirama Viharaya, Kotahena for molesting an under aged boy.

Meanwhile child protection experts have expressed concern over the growing trend in sex- related crimes committed by teachers and principals who are considered guardians of a child’s second home, the school.

Harendra de Silva, Senior Professor of Pediatrics and former Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority ( NCPA) told the Sunday Times a proper screening process should be followed prior to recruiting teachers, scout and cadet