Kishore Kumar suspended

Computer science teacher at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Kishore Kumar has been suspended by the Ministry of Education pending investigations.

Kumar has been behind the Kishore Kumar Publications page on Facebook and has made pornography claims against NFP parliamentarian, Lenora Qereqeretabua.

Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar has today confirmed that Kumar is suspended as the HR Department investigations continue.

Kumar is suspended on full pay.

He had earlier confirmed to us that he is a Year 11 teacher at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School and he is doing his work for the Kishore Kumar Publications during non-official hours.

He also says he is seen as a fatherly figure by all his students.

Meanwhile Akbar has stated that all employees of the Ministry have a duty to conduct themselves at all times, whether in their official capacities or private lives, in a way that the public’s confidence and trust in the integrity, impartiality and effectiveness of the Ministry are preserved and upheld at all times.

Akbar has reminded all teachers that they are civil servants and must at all times uphold the values and abide by the Civil Servants Code of Conduct.

She strongly warns that the Ministry of Education will neither condone nor tolerate any breach of the Civil Servants Code of Conduct.

Akbar says the Ministry has disciplinary measures in place and will institute without hesitation disciplinary action against all officers found in breach of the Civil Servants Code of Conduct.

She says no employee should engage in any activity that brings disrepute to the nobility of the teaching profession, whether in official working hours or outside of official working hours.

The Minister says all employees are to treat all members of society with respect, courtesy and in a fair and equitable manner without harassment, victimisation or discrimination in accordance with section 26(3) of the Constitution.

She also says that all employees must ensure that their conduct in their official capacity and their private life is not to the detriment of any person, group or body and should have due regard and respect for the dignity, rights, duties and proper interests of all others.

Based on this statement, we have asked Akbar what is the Ministry's stand regarding computer science teacher, Kishore Kumar.