Teacher beaten at school says no security existed at all

A teacher at the Naxxar Boys Secondary School claimed in court yesterday that the Education Ministry had not even provided a most basic level of security at the school.

Andrew Cauchi filed a judicial protest against the Minister for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and the Education Department in connection with damages he had sustained when he said he was beaten by a relative of a pupil at school.

Mr Cauchi said he was a teacher of 18 years' experience and had worked at the Naxxar school for three years. On April 17, during school hours and while talking to a colleague, he was beaten up by the partner of the mother of one of the school pupils.

The teacher said he was hurt by the fact that his assailant, together with his partner, had been free to enter the school unhindered. He had expected the authorities to accept responsibility for the incident in view of the fact that at no time had they provided the school with even the most basic level of security one expected in a state school.

Mr Cauchi called upon the authorities to make good the damages he had sustained.

Lawyer Owen Bonnici acted for Mr Cauchi.