The mothers of two boys, aged six and eight, who were struck by a falling gate at Rama Krishna Primary School on October 5 are raising concerns about their children’s health and what they describe as an inadequate response from the school’s administration and the Ministry of Education.
Both mothers said their sons were taken to hospital by teachers following the incident, which occurred late in the afternoon. They said they subsequently viewed security footage showing the children near the gate as a security guard was moving it, before it fell on the boys.
The parents, whose names are being withheld to protect their children’s identities, said they remain concerned about the incident despite being told that the gate has since been repaired.
The mother of the eight-year-old recalled receiving a call at approximately 4:45 p.m. asking her to come to the school. When she arrived, her son was already in a teacher’s vehicle with another injured child, awaiting transportation to hospital.
She took her son to hospital herself, while the teacher transported the other boy.
According to the mother, her son complained of chest pain and underwent an X-ray and an ultrasound before receiving medication and being discharged.
However, she said a teacher who was at the hospital noticed unusual jerking movements while the child was asleep. The mother said she raised the matter with a doctor but was told that he might have been dreaming.
She said the movements have continued since the incident and sometimes prompt her to wake him.
“At no time at all, I never, ever, ever come across that or see that,” she said.
The mother also reported finding a lump on her son’s head after his hair was cut. She said he has complained of headaches and that she keeps him home from school when he is unwell.
She said no CT scan was performed and that she cannot afford to have one done privately.
The six-year-old’s mother said she learnt of the incident after calling his class teacher because he had not arrived home with his usual transportation.
The teacher told her that her son was being taken to hospital. She and her husband then rushed to meet him.
She praised the teacher who accompanied her son, saying the teacher insisted on remaining until the children had been assessed.
According to the mother, her son underwent X-rays, an ultrasound and blood tests before being discharged later that night. She clarified that he did not receive a CT scan.
She said he continued to experience pain after returning home and remained away from school for two weeks, complaining of headaches and pain in his hands, feet and hip area.
“I didn’t really sleep that night because he was in so much pain,” she recalled. “I was so worried because this is my only child.”
Both mothers said they visited the school the following day and asked to view footage of the incident.
According to their accounts, several children had been around or on the gate before it fell. The eight-year-old’s mother said most moved away when the security guard began closing it, while two children went behind it and appeared to help push.
She said another child who was on the gate ran when it began falling, but the two boys behind it could not get clear.
The six-year-old’s mother questioned why children were allowed to assist with moving what she described as a large, heavy steel gate.
Both parents said the headmistress told them there was little the school could do because the incident occurred after regular school hours.
The eight-year-old’s mother explained that her younger son remained at the school while his older brother attended Grade Six lessons, so the two could travel home together.
She said her work commitments made separate afternoon pickups difficult.
The six-year-old’s mother similarly questioned the suggestion that the time of the incident reduced the school’s responsibility for children still on the premises awaiting transportation.
“This is the safest place for the kids,” she said.
The eight-year-old’s mother said she recorded the security footage on her phone while viewing it at the school.
Both mothers also reported taking their concerns to the Ministry of Education’s welfare department, but said follow-up contact came only after a lengthy wait.
The eight-year-old’s mother said an official eventually called to tell her that the gate had been fixed, without asking about her son’s condition.
The six-year-old’s mother said she received a call approximately two weeks after reporting the matter and challenged the delay in checking on the children.
The parents said they also contacted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed about the incident.
Although the six-year-old has returned to school, his mother said she continues to worry about his safety and has considered transferring him.
“Every day when he comes home,” she said, she reminds him to stay away from the gate.
Kiskadee Watch contacted the Ministry of Education for a response to the claims made. The ministry’s public relations officer stated that the query would be sent to the officer within the ministry dealing with the case for a response. No response has since been received.
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