Teachers association condemns violence against educators

AMMAN — The Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) has condemned two incidents of violence against educators that took place last week.    

In a statement published on the JTA website on Saturday, the association’s media office said security officers arrested Mohammad Shakhatreh, principal of Maeen Secondary School, based on a complaint by the family of a student.

The problem started when the school board decided to transfer the student to another school due to several violations he committed, after which he attacked the cars of the principal and the educational adviser, the statement said, adding that Shakhatreh filed a complaint against the student at the police station, but no measures were taken. 

Moreover, the student’s family filed a “malicious” complaint with the police, accompanied by a medical report claiming that Shakhatreh had hit the student, the JTA said.

The principal was arrested although he denied hitting the student, according to the statement, which noted that the Madaba mayor has promised to follow up on the issue.

In another incident at the Manshiyet Al Ghiath Secondary School for Boys in Ruweished, a group of armed outlaws with over 20 vehicles broke into the school, located in Mafraq Governorate, and “assaulted” teachers and the principal, according to another statement issued on Thursday night.

The JTA contacted the Ministry of Education and security officials to intensify security protection at the school and put an end to the recurrent incidents of armed violence targeting the school, but in vain, the statement said.

Advising teachers and students not to come to the school until the problem is solved, the JTA suggested transferring lessons to nearby schools.

Education Ministry Spokesperson Walid Jallad on Thursday said the ministry is working in coordination with the governor of Mafraq to take appropriate measures against the assailants.

Jallad said the ministry telephoned the principal, who was admitted to Ruweished Public Hospital, to check on his condition, adding that it will file a lawsuit against the aggressors.