Four teachers of the Government High School at Arumparthapuram were suspended by the Department of School Education on Thursday for allegedly misusing the school computer for watching pornographic material and sexually harassing students by forcing them to watch it.
Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) of Social Science, Jude Anbazhagan and N Sivakumar, M Abdul Malik, TGT of Science, and Physical Education Teacher A Rashid Mohammed have been placed under suspension based on a complaint received by the school authorities from the Parent Teachers Association (PTA).
Following a complaint filed against Abdul Malik on Thursday morning, he was suspended. He, however, did not figure in the list of teachers transferred.
The PTA collected all the data from the computer accessed by the four teachers. Evidence, including data such as content previewed, the website, time and duration of the video, had been secured before lodging the complaint.
It was based on the evidence produced by the PTA that the four teachers were placed under suspension, said E Vallavan, Director, School Education. The department would initiate an inquiry after issuing a showcause notice to them, he added.
Minister for Power and Education T Thiagarajan promised that stringent action would be taken after inquiry. Only two months ago, J Harishkrishnan (50), a teacher, was arrested on charges of molesting a Class III girl student of Irulanchanthai government primary school. A 56-year-old teacher of a government primary school, identified as Ravindra Kumar, was arrested on charges of molesting a Class 4 girl student on September 3.
Prabakaran (58), a social science teacher of the Government Higher Secondary School at Kathirkamam, was placed under suspension on charges of molesting a Class VI girl student. So far no action, besides suspension, had been taken against Prabakaran, it was said.
The Department of School Education provided Internet access in all government schools three years ago, restricting the download limit to a maximum of 2 GB. While Higher Secondary schools were provided Internet facility by the department, the rest of the schools were given web access under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Scheme. While teachers use it for educational purposes, the staff use the Internet for bill payments and emails. Sources said the Education Department should initiate measures to monitor the use of computers and Internet in all schools.
