'171 abused by teachers, 2 of them commit suicide in 11 months'

A total of 171 students were abused by teachers at different educational institutions from January to November this year and among them two students take their lives, according to a study of human rights organisation Ain o Shalish Kendra.

Executive Director Shipa Hafiza today revealed the findings during a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the suicide of Aritry Adhikary, a class nine student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

Child Right’s Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh organised the human chain.

The coalition today condemned the humiliation of the ninth grader and her parents by teachers at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

They also gave a list of recommendations to the government in order to stop the physical and mental abuse of students in the educational institutions.

Their recommendations include proper investigation of all such incidents, punishment for the culprits and prominently displaying notification regarding prohibition on physical and psychological punishment to students in all academic institutions.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ARITRY ADHIKARY?

Aritry Adhikary, a ninth grader, was found hanging from the ceiling of her home in the capital's Shantinagar on Monday (December 3) hours after she and her parents were allegedly insulted by some teachers of the school.

The death and the subsequent agitation, joined by parents, rocked the 66-year-old institute and prompted the education ministry and the school authorities to form two separate probe committees.

WHAT DID EDUCATION MINISTER SAY TODAY?

The ministry of education has asked the governing body of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College to suspend its three teachers including acting principal Nazneen Ferdous.

The two other teachers are shift-in-charge of morning shift Jeenat Ara and class teacher Hasna Hena.

The ministry has also decided to cancel the teachers' MPOs, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said while addressing a press briefing at his secretariat office today. 

Departmental action will be taken against all the three teachers, Nahid said.