Principal of the Mayaro Government Primary School Andy Paul has not been suspended from duty.
The Ministry Education said in a statement yesterday that Paul had been instructed by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to “cease to report for duties while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury suffered by the student, is being investigated.”
This is in accordance with provisions of Regulation 88 of the Public Service Commission Regulations Chapter 1:0.
The T&T Guardian was told that on the basis of a report by a school supervisor, Paul was written to by the TSC and told to proceed on immediate leave pending an investigation.
This followed a bullying incident at the school on February 1 in which a Standard One student suffered a broken arm.
The ministry said it has no authority to “make appointments or promotions and transfer, neither to confirm appointments, or to remove and exercise disciplinary actions over members of the teaching service.”
The statement continued: “This responsibility has been reserved to the Teaching Service Commission according to Section 125 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The ministry further explained: “Suspension is a form of disciplinary action that is taken against an officer who has been found guilty of misconduct.”
Paul will be given every opportunity to state his position on the incident at the school and at this time no guilt has been attributed to him, the ministry added
Sources said there is a concern that the TSC acted hastily and there should have been a thorough investigation.”
Primary school principals are wearing black in support of Paul.
