7 Jul 2010

Fiji teacher pleads guilty to assaulting students

10:07 am on 7 July 2010

A primary school teacher in Fiji has pleaded guilty to assaulting a group of students with a hose pipe over a game of cards.

Fiji Live reports that Sekope Kacimaiwai was charged with five counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and 21 counts of common assault.

He was a teacher Volivoli Primary School in Saqani, when he came across a group of boys playing cards after class and hit them with a hose pipe.

Fiji's education minister Filipe Bole says the students, who are aged between 6 and 13 years, suffered bruises while one was left unconscious.

The Minister has warned teachers that if they use corporal punishment they will be immediately suspended without pay until their case is settled in court.

Corporal punishment is illegal in Fiji and directives forbidding it have been circulated to schools.

The case will be called on July 26 for sentencing.