Mulanje teacher arrested for wounding learner

A Standard Five learner at Njedza Primary School in Mulanje is in pain after his 47-year-old teacher, Stanley Matemba, whipped him twice on the eye.

Precious Mapaya from Njedza Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mabuka in the district was wounded on Wednesday, after his social studies teacher got angry with some students who were making noise in the classroom and decided to whip the whole class.

Precious said the teacher struck him twice on the eye with a chalkboard pointer.

He was escorted out of the classroom by the teacher and sent home to inform his parents about what happened.

He was later treated at Mulanje District Hospital where he had three stitches on a cut below the left eye and received medication on an open wound on the left outer side of the eye.

Mulanje district education manager (DEM) Gossam Mafuta described the incident as unfortunate and uncalled for, saying his office would ensure that such things do not happen again.

He said: “It is unfortunate for this to happen at a time when we all know that corporal punishment is no longer condoned in schools. We will ensure that our member of staff is treated accordingly, so that such incidents should be avoided.”

Mafuta, however, expressed concern over the victim’s relations who “man-handled” the teacher in front of his learners when they came to take him to police.

Head teacher of the institution, HandfordKatuli, alleged that three men caught the  teacher as he was relieving himself in the washroom and dragged him out with his trousers hanging around his knees.

Meanwhile, Matemba, who comes from Waluma Village, T/A Mnkhumba in Phalombe has been released on bail.