Teacher ‘attacked’ by peon

Headmistress says she may resign from service because a lady officer is not safe

KARACHI:

The headmistress of a primary school in Moro has accused her peon Hasnain Shah of harassment and an attack.

Ghulam Aisha said that Shah entered her office on Wednesday morning and after using abusive language, tried to attack her in front of school teachers and staff. Shah was transferred in November 2020 from the Government Boys Primary School Ahmed Shah located on Dadu Road of Moro town for a previous misconduct.

"He never came to school since his transfer," Aisha briefed The Express Tribune. "His sudden appearance and this kind of attitude was a shock for me," she added.

The headmistress said that Shah used to drink during office hours and district education officers were informed of this misconduct around two years ago. "I released him after a discussion with the top district officer," the principal stated. In her letter to the Sindh education secretary, a cop of which is available with the Express Tribune, Aisha said that Shah tried to attack her and "wanted to kill her".

"I tried to leave [the school] but could not." "I [was] injured physically and mentally."

The incident left her feeling disillusioned she believed it was not possible for a woman to serve safely. "I am not safe in the school and cannot perform my duties," she mentioned in the letter to the education department.

"Due to the present and previous situation, I may resign from service because a lady officer is not safe," she added.

Taking notice of the attack on the lady teacher by a male staff member, Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah ordered officials to probe the incident and take appropriate action against the person involved.

"This anti-female attitude will not be tolerated," the minister said in a statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2022.