Petnjica: The school put the injured student in danger

The "Savin Kuk" Primary School in Petnjica directly endangered the student by allowing the injured student to be driven by another student, also a minor, according to the opinion of the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms.

The student's parent addressed the Protector with a complaint related to the illegal and unprofessional behavior of the school.

The complaint states, among other things, that the student fell and broke her leg during physical education class, that medical help was not called or provided, but the girl was sent home. It is further stated that the parents are more than surprised by the behavior of the school and the state of stress that the child survived and believe that the rules were not respected in this case.

As they were unable to reach the parents, the teacher, according to the school's statement, immediately called the injured student's grandfather "who told him that she was twisting her leg in the knee area" and to send her home in a van. It is further stated that the teacher at the given moment could not guess what kind of injury it was, so he believed the grandfather's statements.

At the moment when everything happened, no school van was available because classes end earlier on Mondays, so the teacher allowed the XNUMXth grade student to tie up the student with his car, even though he is aware of the fact that the boy is a minor and does not have a driver's license... It is against him disciplinary procedure was carried out.

The protector's institution points out that the educational institution is responsible for the safety of students during classes, that is, as long as they are at school. The fact that children are separated from their parents during that period obliges the educational institution to take responsibility for them at every moment and in every situation. "A child who is in a state of need and obviously needs medical help must rely on the school, which, in cooperation and communication with the parent, will take the necessary actions and measures in the best interest of the child", it is stated in the conclusions, which add that in this case no measures were taken actions and measures in the best interest of the student.

"Although the school subsequently took procedural and formal actions and measures by engaging pedagogues, taking statements from students, conducting disciplinary proceedings against the teacher in question, all this does not diminish the responsibility of the school administration and all participants in this event in relation to the health condition of the student, as well as directly bringing endangering two students - allowing transportation by motor vehicle by a minor," the conclusions state.

The deputy protector, Snežana Mijušković, is very concerned about the inadequate response of the school in this case, on several levels. "Failure to establish timely communication between the teacher in question and the school administration, failure to make a joint assessment and decision in relation to dealing with a child who clearly has an injury and is in pain, failure to establish timely communication with parents and reliance on the statement of the student herself that she 'wants to be taken home' and directly violation of all rules and norms by allowing a minor to take care of a schoolgirl who is in a state of need while driving a motor vehicle," states Mijušković's opinion.

She gave four recommendations to Elementary School "Savin Bor", among which is to establish a protocol, improve cooperation with parents, but also to conduct parent meetings regarding children who drive motor vehicles and come to class with them in order to prevent such a trend.