Pre-kinder teacher in hot water over alleged abuse, locking students in bathroom

A teacher is under fire after parents complained about her alleged verbal and physical abuse of pre-kindergarten students.

According to Mark Salazar’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the abuses happened last February 24 and were caught on camera.

In the CCTV footage, the teacher lost patience with a student who had difficulty counting numbers.

“Sabi ko bilangin mo lang! Bilangin mo lahat ‘yan!” the teacher can be heard shouting.

(I told you to just count them! Count all of them!)

The teacher slapped the hand of the pupil. She shouted at the pupil, who looked stressed in the video.

The student’s mother was disappointed after learning what happened to her son.

“Akala ko talaga parang pisikal lang ‘yung ginawa niya na napalo niya kasi makulit. Parang emotional and mental ang ginawa mong trauma doon sa bata,” she lamented.

(I thought he was just slapped for being rowdy. But what happened really affected him emotionally and mentally, leaving him traumatized.)

The mother pointed out that her son has autism. She was infuriated with the incident given her child’s condition.

“Kung ako nga hindi ko siya ginaganoon dito, ‘pag ganoon kinakausap ko siya ng mahinahaon lang kasi kapag hindi kaya nung bata, minsan nafu-frustrate na siya kapag hindi niya talaga kaya,” she said.

(I can’t even do that to my kid. If he’s being rowdy, I talk to him calmly because he gets frustrated when he cannot handle things anymore.)

“Masakit for me kasi ‘yun nga may autism siya tapos ina-sure naman nila sa amin, sa akin na tumatanggap sila ng may ganoon na bata.”

(It pains me so much because he has autism. They even assured us that they accept students like him.)

In another instance, the teacher was also caught getting mad at another student who is having a hard time with addition.

The student cried. And, instead of consoling the child, the teacher mocked her.

“Sige, mag-ganyan ka na lang wag ka nang magsagot. Doon ka! Masyado kang pabebe ha!” the teacher was heard saying.

(Okay, just sulk over there and stop answering. Go there! You are acting like a baby!)

Further, the students complained about the teacher locking them in the comfort room if they were rowdy.

“May tinatawag kasi silang dark room eh. Ang dark room pala nila is ‘yung CR. Ikinukulong daw sila doon sa CR kapag makulit sila,” the mom of the kid with autism shared.

(They have this so-called dark room. Apparently, the dark room is the CR. They were being locked there when they are being rowdy.)

According to the parents, the teacher already apologized to them.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Sige, teacher, school na lang magbibigay ng punishment sa inyo,” a mother shared.

(I just told her that it’s up to school on how they will punish her.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to the school owner and said that they need time to investigate the incident before releasing a statement.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education has yet to give a statement on the matter.

But the parents said they will not back down in pursuing justice for their children.

“Hindi po ako aatras kasi para sa anak ko, kasi ang inaano ko kasi doon ‘yung safety ng anak ko,” the mom of the student with autism said.

(I will not back down for my kid. Because I’m concerned for his safety.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News