Beaten: Winfer Gardens pupil Maurice Gibson displaying his stitched up thumb, the result of an alleged beating by a teacher.
A student was abruptly pulled out of the National Schools Athletics Championships at Enmore last week after a teacher allegedly gave him a severe beating.
The incident comes amidst a spate of teacher/student violence and it has sparked concern within the Guyana Teachers Union. The teacher was placed before the courts yesterday to face charges of assault and wounding. Teacher, Keon Alberts pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Brassington Reynolds at the Vigilance Magistrate's Court and was released on $10,000 bail. The matter is set to continue at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court on April 6.
The injured student, Maurice Gibson Jr of Winfer Gardens Primary School had gone to the championships to compete in the Boys Under 13 Javelin and High Jump.
Gibson, who is getting ready for his Common Entrance exams, had competed in the javelin competition but was pulled out before his high jump meet.
Reports are that his mother went to Enmore and after seeing the injuries her son had suffered went to the police.
The boy's right thumb was mangled as a result of the beating apparently with a belt and he received six stitches after visiting the hospital. The matter was reported to the police and the teacher was detained.