Durban - Former Durban teacher Preantharan Naidoo has been banned from teaching in the UK after being found guilty of unacceptable conduct relating to “vulnerable” male pupils.
The 50-year-old expat, now living in London, was fired from his school, Globe Academy, in 2013 and was last week supposed to appear before a professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL).
He did not pitch and the public hearing went ahead in his absence.
The panel found his “sexually motivated” conduct, over a sustained period towards at least five vulnerable pupils, was particularly serious.
Naidoo is a University of Durban-Westville graduate who previously taught at Burnwood High School in Durban and Lincoln Heights Secondary in Newcastle before moving to the UK.
The panel heard that he had communicated in an inappropriate and/or flirtatious manner with one pupil via text messages and Facebook, and while the pupil was at Naidoo’s home, he allegedly rubbed his chest and touched his leg.
On more than one occasion, he told the child he loved him and did not want him out of his life, the panel was told.
Naidoo had allegedly taken the teen to a pub and offered to buy him a pint of beer. He also allegedly bought him gifts and/or food and paid him to complete the teacher’s work.
He was also alleged to have bought gifts or food for other pupils, hugged some and rubbed one’s shoulders.
Naidoo allegedly invited another to his home and told him he loved him, allowing the boy to call him “dad”.
The teen said he had become aware that Naidoo was gay when he was at the teacher’s home with his South African friend and they were all “talking about different sexual relationships”.
According to a report by Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State, Naidoo would not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. However, he said Naidoo had a right to appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days of the July 25 decision.
Mayrick said teachers were meant to uphold public trust and maintain high standards of ethics. He said he was satisfied Naidoo’s conduct fell significantly short of the standards.
“I have noted the comments from the panel that Mr Naidoo has provided no indication of any insight into or remorse for his actions, nor demonstrated an intention to learn from his conduct or a commitment to abiding by the Teachers’ Standards. In the circumstances, and for the reasons set out, I support the panel’s recommendation that there should be no review period.”
The panel found that Naidoo had sought to build a closer relationship with pupils particularly towards the end of their last year.
“On the balance of probabilities, the panel considers that this was to continue their contact, with the potential to develop a sexual relationship once the students had left the academy.”
On his LinkedIn profile, Naidoo said he was the chief executive of Digital Education Solution from 2012 until last year.
According to the panel report, he was an English teacher at the Globe Academy since January 2005.
In September 2012, allegations of inappropriate behaviour were brought to the attention of the principal.
During late 2012 and early 2013, a police investigation into the allegations was undertaken and pupils were interviewed but no further action was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The academy undertook its own disciplinary investigation and on November 15, 2013, Naidoo was dismissed.
The panel found that apart from the fourth pupil, all of the pupils were high achievers. All had spoken fondly of Naidoo as a teacher and many were grateful for his help and support. It said Naidoo had not engaged with the police, the academy or the NCTL to offer his own explanation of the circumstances underlying the allegations.
POST tried contacting Naidoo via MyFlo, a teaching platform which he said he had co-founded and headed, with no luck.
While active on LinkedIn, he did not accept an invitation to connect with a staffer to give his side of the story.
Three of Naidoo’s former colleagues were tracked and they have expressed shock at the allegations against him. One said: “He was a drama teacher at the school and was popular. He was an eccentric and enthusiastic character. I heard about the allegations, which were floating on social media, and I don’t know what to think... When he was here we experienced no such problems.”
Another teacher said: “As far as teaching was concerned, I could not fault him. I was quite impressed with him and admired his enthusiasm. However, I did not know the private side of him.”
A third said: “I cannot associate this with him. He was very intelligent and got on well with the learners.”
The Globe Academy had not responded to e-mailed questions or calls by time of publication.
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