CTU threatens strike over parent verbally abusing teacher

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has warned that it would resort to trade union action if authorities fail to file a court case against the parent who had verbally abused and threatened a teacher at a school in Puttalam. 

Secretary of the CTU, Joseph Stalin, today condemned the decision taken by police to release the suspect on police bail and transfer the case to a Mediation Board.

On November 13, the father of a female student at the Kiwulakele Maha Vidyalaya had entered the school premises and lashed out at the teacher in charge of discipline, using profanities and threats, who had warned his daughter and told her to unravel the hem of her school uniform. 

The individual in question was summoned for questioning by Puttalam Police on November 15 while he was released on police bail after a statement was recorded. The case was transferred to a Mediation Board by Puttalam Police. 

CTU Secretary Joseph Stalin says that an individual who forcibly enters a school, obstructing duties and uses abusive language against a teacher cannot be released on police bail. Police should only instigate judicial action against such individuals, he said.