Suriname's Education, Science and Culture Minister Robert Peneux reported that he has fired no fewer than seven teachers in the past year over child abuse matters. Photo: Daily Herald

The Minister did not give much detail about the teachers in question, only saying that three of them were over 50 years of age. He did say that apparently the teachers received sexual favors from students in return for good grades. Peneux said an investigation into the cases is ongoing.

The Minister said that he also fired the principals of the schools where these people worked. “When something like this is taking place at your school for many years, you cannot come and tell me that you did not know what was going on,” he sneered.

Peneux urged teachers, who have suspicions that their colleagues may be abusing children, to speak up. The Minister abhorred that there are teachers who ignore their jobs as educators to become exhibitionists and pornographers. “If you have indications that this is happening, you should not be afraid to have that brought to my attention. As Minister of Education it is my duty to make sure that children receive proper education. I am merciless when it comes to these types of matters, and if I have to cut with a dull axe, I will,” he said.

He said he was happy that he could to rely on the backing of Justice and Police Minister Jennifer van Dijk-Silos. He said that in the interest of battling child abuse and to prevent morals and values from sliding, the cooperation between the two ministries is important. He said he was well aware that Minister van Dijk-Silos cared deeply about the rights of children and was probably tougher than he in dealing with violators.

It is not clear whether criminal charges have been brought against the teachers the Minister said he had discharged and if a school principal who was arrested in July was among the seven he mentioned. D.M., a principal of a school in District Para, was held by police for impregnating a 15-year-old schoolgirl. Reports are that even before the girl got pregnant, his relationship with her had raised eyebrows. He often had her in his office, but it wasn’t until she was with child that the police report was made. Other school employees and students backed up the suspicions. The pregnancy has meanwhile been terminated and the girl has been relocated to another school, at the request of the parents. Her name was not divulged.

The Child Abuse Hotline office was the second of the sort that the Ministry of Education has opened in the past year; the first was opened six months ago in Apoera, an indigenous village in southwest Suriname. The office is tasked with tackling the structural abuse and trafficking of children. A Hotline office will also be opened in Suriname, Minister Peneux said.