THE PARENTS of a 12-year-old gymnasium pupil, who allegedly groped his teacher during break time, are suing the school’s headmistress, acting principal and teacher for mistreating their son.
According to lawyer Michalakis Kyprianou, who is representing the family, the officials of the Apostolos Andreas gymnasium in Emba are being sued on both a personal and professional basis.
While not denying the initial charge, according to reports, following the boy’s action, the teacher grabbed him by the arm and took him to the headmistress’s office where he was scolded and threatened with expulsion.
The boy’s parents claim that the teachers’ actions were unethical and unprofessional and have asked for considerable compensation. Their child was the victim of “slander, defamation and aggression while receiving direct or indirect threats”, cited the parents in their formal complaint.
The defendants displayed “unprofessional or even illegal behaviour while handling and acting against the underage pupil”, it continued.
“The defendants, while carrying out their duties or invoking carrying out their duties, caused psychological or mental harm to the child, exceeding their duties as such” the complaint concluded.
Headmistress of the Apostolos Andreas gymnasium Maria Demetriou refused to comment on the matter yesterday. She did, however, say that she believed the media were creating a much bigger problem with the way they are handling school situations.
“Let us do our jobs. Stop interfering and making matters worse”.
She then accused the media of using false information without considering the positions of everyone involved.
The school has come under the spotlight for the second time in as many weeks after a British female pupil alleged that she had been sexually assaulted on the school’s premises. A mother of one of the girl’s friends faces a possible court case for physically and verbally attacking one of the boys she believed to be involved.
Teachers’ Association OELMEK could not comment, a spokesman told the Cyprus Mail, as lawyer Kyprianou had given strict instructions that any comments on the matter were to be given by him.
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