Diocese of Mangalore calls for fair investigation regarding St. Gerosa School Incident
Mangalore : The Diocese of Mangalore has voiced its concern and appealed for justice following the distressing events that unfolded at St. Gerosa English Higher Primary School on February 10, 2024. It said that the incident stemmed from baseless allegations against an English Teacher at the school.
The issue began with the circulation of two audio messages on social media, accusing the English Teacher of making derogatory remarks about Hindu religious practices and political leaders during a 7th std class. Responding to this, four parents approached the Headmistress, who promised a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. Despite assurances of an inquiry, a group of individuals gathered outside the school premises at 12:30 p.m. The Headmistress assured them of a fair investigation. Later that day, the school's sisters wrote to the district administration, denouncing the false allegations and requesting protection from potential unrest.
The Diocese mentions in its statement that the situation escalated on February 12, when Local MLA Vedavyas Kamath led a protest demanding an immediate apology and the suspension of the English Teacher. He also harassed female staff, creating a hostile environment.
In the evening, as students were leaving, the MLA encouraged them to chant religious verses and slogans against the teacher. Under pressure, the school management suspended the teacher pending an inquiry to maintain order and ensure student safety.
The Diocese mentions in its statement that the English Teacher was teaching Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Work is Worship" and was explaining lines from the poem in the English syllabus of the 7th Standard. The teacher did not make any disparaging remarks as claimed on social media.
The Diocese of Mangalore has urged the Minority Department officials, Child Welfare Department, and Women's Commission to conduct a fair inquiry into the incident. They seek to investigate the mistreatment of the women teachers and children by the MLA. The Diocese also calls for a probe into the false allegations against the English Teacher and advocates for the protection of her dignity and the interests of minorities, women, and children.
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UK workers face some of Europe's greatest job stress: Report
London: British workers are facing some of the highest levels of job stress in Europe, with long working hours, tight deadlines, and limited autonomy, without being any more productive, according to a new report. The findings come as the UK's new Labour government prepares to introduce tougher regulations for employers.
The report, produced by the Commission for Healthier Working Lives — a body set up by the Britain's Health Foundation think tank and trade union representation — reveals that three-fifths of the UK workforce experience tight deadlines, and two-fifths had to work at high speed, as cited by Reuters on Monday. These figures are among the largest proportions in Europe. In contrast, only a third of workers have the autonomy to choose the pace of their work.
Jonny Gifford, principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies and one of the report's authors, stressed that long hours, work intensity, and lack of control are problem areas that should be addressed.
The report noted that workers in certain sectors, particularly construction, transport, warehouses, retail, and hospitality, face the most demanding conditions, while professional roles like teaching and nursing also reported particular strain.
The report highlighted that the UK ranks poorly across nearly every measure of workplace demands, control, and job strain in comparison to other European nations. About half of the UK's workforce reported feeling exhausted from work, and stress levels have risen significantly over the past 25 years.
