Primary School teacher given 12 months suspended sentence for slapping Year 3 student

A teacher of Gospel Primary School has been given a 12 months suspended sentence for one count of assault causing actual bodily harm by Magistrate Deepika Prakash.

If she commits an offence during the 12 months she will have to serve 3 months in prison which is her sentence for one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Sylvia Singh had pleaded guilty to slapping a Year 3 student at the school on the 19th of July this year.

In her sentence, Magistrate Prakash said the student got swelling on the right side of his face.

Magistrate Prakash said that the student also experienced pain when he moved his right eye.

The Magistrate also considered that Singh was a first offender and took an early guilty plea.

She said the teacher was remorseful for her actions and had attempted reconciliation in the traditional manner by offering a tabua and yaqona.

It was heard in court that Singh had tried to stop the fight between the victim and another boy at school on the day of the incident.

It was during that incident that she slapped the student.

Magistrate Prakash said teachers are entrusted to look after children and being the adult in the situation, the actions of the teacher is not justified.