School principal assault a boy after finding out the boy was in love with his school girl girlfriend

Today this woman came to my office with a very sad case seeking justice for her son, who is a student at Bookshine Academy School in Mwiki. The mother informed me that they had just come from the hospital where she had taken her son for treatment after he was allegedly brutally assaulted by the school principal together with five other teachers.

According to the mother and the young boy, the teachers alleged that the student was involved in a relationship with a girl in the same school. What is even more disturbing is that the school allegedly never informed or called the parents about what had happened to their child despite the injuries he sustained.

The young boy had a red eye, severe pain, and visible assault marks on his back. The mother also confirmed that an X-ray report from the hospital indicated that the boy sustained head injuries as a result of the alleged assault.

I personally called the school principal, who acknowledged that the incident happened and asked for forgiveness. He requested to sit down with the parent so that the matter could be resolved amicably. However, the boy alleges that the principal personally took the matter into his own hands and used excessive force on him.

It is also alleged that the principal had interest in the same girl the boy was allegedly in a relationship with, and therefore he may have been settling scores with the young boy instead of professionally handling the matter as a teacher and administrator. The student further stated that were it not for a CRE teacher who intervened and cried out for him, the assault could have continued.

Despite the apology from the principal, the mother could not accept it because her son is still in pain, traumatized, and recovering from the injuries he sustained. I advised the family on the proper legal and administrative channels to follow to ensure that the young boy gets justice.

Discipline in schools is important, but it should never reach the level of brutality, violence, or endangering the life of a child. Teachers are entrusted with the responsibility of guiding, mentoring, and protecting learners, not inflicting physical harm on them.

This matter will also be forwarded to the Ministry of Education for further investigations and action to ensure accountability and the safety of students in learning institutions.

My appeal to all teachers and school administrators is to always handle students with professionalism, restraint, and humanity. Let us discipline children through guidance and counseling, not violence and excessive punishment that leaves learners injured and traumatized.