Parents have been urged to pay special attention to the credentials of educational facilities and the qualifications of members of staff before placing a child in their care.
The Family and Child Prosecution Chief Prosecutor Ahmed Alfadhel told the GDN that parents have to play a key role in ensuring the environment is safe following widespread anger over allegations of child abuse at a Bahrain nursery.
“Before enrolling their children at an education facility, parents should request to see the official documents to make sure they are licensed,” Mr Alfadel told the GDN yesterday.
“It is advised that they also check on safety issues, including whether CCTV cameras are set up at the facility.
“The Public Prosecution will investigate any complaints in connection to the alleged abuse of children, whether physically and psychologically, and will take them seriously.
“We have medical experts and psychiatrists who examine the victims and provide care at specialised facilities.”
Mr Alfadhel said the Public Prosecution also has appropriate rooms to help the victims share their ordeal with professionals.
When sufficient evidence is gathered the cases are sent to a specialised court to be heard and prosecutors’ request judges impose the maximum punishment on those found guilty, he added.
His comments follow a huge public outcry over the case of a nursery employee who appeared in a viral social media post slapping and reprimanding a young girl and was later arrested, as reported in yesterday’s GDN.
The employee who filmed the video was also arrested and the day-care facility closed.
The Family and Child Prosecution head also stated yesterday that the nursery owner, and others involved in the case, had been remanded in custody pending criminal proceedings and court appearance.
According to an official statement released, the investigation into the incident had now been completed.
The GDN reported yesterday that the suspects were employed at the nursery allegedly without having the required qualifications. The nursery where the assault occurred also had an expired licence, according to the prosecutors, and had been shut down.
The Bahraini mother of the child slapped in the video revealed that the incident took place in June although the video only went viral on Tuesday.
“I was completely shocked,” she said. “We were even paying extra fees in order for staff members to keep a special eye on my daughter who is hyperactive and we never expected her to be inhumanely beaten in such a manner.
“My daughter has difficulty speaking and is undergoing special treatment at another private institute. We are grateful this incident has been exposed and is now in the hands of the court.”
Many parents have expressed their outrage with some demanding children be taken back to remote learning in order to keep them safe.
Meanwhile, another video circulating on social media yesterday depicted a primary school student with blood on his face following a slap allegedly from a female teacher.
His father said he would submit a police report following an official medical report from the hospital.
The Education Ministry has issued a series of statements concerning the use of corporal punishment in schools, warning of the severe consequences any educator or administrator would face if allegations were upheld following investigations.
Another statement was later issued by the Ministry referring to a separate incident where students at a primary school had allegedly suffered physical punishment from the school’s faculty.
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