Northern Ireland

Tyrone school investigating reports teacher wrote on a child's forehead

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said it was aware of an incident at St Lawrence's PS in Fintona
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said it was aware of an incident at St Lawrence's PS in Fintona The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said it was aware of an incident at St Lawrence's PS in Fintona

A CO Tyrone school is investigating reports one of its teacher wrote on a child's forehead with a marker.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) said it was aware of an incident at St Lawrence's PS in Fintona, Co Tyrone.

The school's board of governors is understood to be investigating claims that a teacher wrote the word "capital" on a pupil's forehead with a marker.

The Ulster Herald reported that the child had "struggled to grasp the concept of capital letters".

A concerned parent said the pupil had been "humiliated in front of laughing classmates" and "left in tears".

"When the child cried at the humiliation, the teacher joined in with the rest of the class in laughing," the parent said.

"This type of behaviour is something from another era which we all thought we had left behind.

"It is disappointing that a qualified teacher seemed to think this behaviour was appropriate."

The CCMS said it was aware of the matter and it was "being dealt with by the school's board of governors in accordance with their safeguarding procedures".

Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma said she was concerned.

"While the relevant authorities continue to deal with the incident, it is not in the interests of those affected for me to comment," she added.

"However, this type of allegation gives me cause for concern and I would urge any parents or guardians of children who feel that any complaints that they have made have not been adequately handled to contact my office."