92 Teachers Under Investigation For Sexual Abuse, MEP Confirms
Where to look for sex offenders? In the schools, naturally.

The Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP) says it is currently investigating 92 teachers, from different schools, being accused of sexual abuses and have all been moved to administrative duties where the do not come into contact with the children.

For months the MEP has been under pressure of allowing teachers suspected of sexual abuse to remain in the classroom. As well a number of condemned sexual offenders who were able to avoid jail have been apprehended in the classroom.

One of the more controversial cases is that of a teacher who, after spending six years in prison for sexual abuse, was again employed by the MEP. Worse the MEP had no idea of the man's history of sexual abuse and conviction.

The latest case of the arrest of a sexual abuser who was a teacher in Pocosol de san Carlos. The man nad four signed complaints against him six under investigation while he was teaching fifth and sixth grade students.

According to Irving Mathews, an official at MEP, they have come up against a wall in firing the teachers accused of sexual offences as they have not been able to get information from the Poder Judicial (courts) to take the administrative action necessary.

Mathews says that the Ministro de Educación, Manuel Bolaños, has had a hard time obtaining the copies of the sentences related to the sex abusers. Also, the Poder Judicial will not disclose information on those cases under investigation.

The selection process for teachers is made by the Dirección de Carrera del Servicio Civil y el Departamento de Personal del MEP, which, according to Mathews, do not have information about any ongoing investigation against an applicant.