Teacher who used student's log-in to view porn not yet referred to Teachers Registration Board

A TEACHER who used a student's internet login to access pornography has not yet been referred to the Teachers Registration Board.

A TEACHER who used a student's internet login to access pornography and left the student to take the blame has not yet been referred to the Teachers Registration Board.

The teacher was suspended pending an investigation only last month when the 2004 incident was made public.

At the time of the incident, the teacher was only cautioned.

The Sunday Mail yesterday revealed parents at Reynella East College, where the teacher now works, had not been told the reason for his suspension.

It has led to claims the Government failed to heed calls for greater disclosure to parents in the wake of the Debelle inquiry into a sex-abuse case at a western suburbs school.

Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine said recommendations from the Debelle inquiry prevented parents being told the reason for the teacher's suspension.

Her office last night also confirmed no referral to the Teachers Registration Board had been made.

More: Student paid hush money after wrongly accused of looking at porn at school

"We have absolutely followed the protocols laid down by Mr Debelle in his inquiry," Ms Rankine said yesterday.

"Until charges are laid or an arrest is made, according to Mr Debelle, we should not be sending out letters."

She said police had advised on October 28 they were ceasing their investigations but an internal Education Department investigation was continuing.

More: Debelle report cost taxpayers $1.1m

Mr Debelle's report included new guidelines for dealing with sexual misconduct claims. He stressed they are "intended to provide guidance" and "cannot be prescriptive".

"Generally speaking, while allegations are being investigated, it is not appropriate to inform parents of those allegations," the guidelines say.

"The allegations might prove to be false, may not be substantiated, or there may be insufficient evidence."

Ms Rankine said there were legitimate questions around whether a cautionary letter given to the teacher, accused of accessing violent pornography, was an adequate response.

She said the incident was significantly different from the one that sparked the Debelle inquiry because it related to dishonest conduct by a teacher, rather than physical child sex abuse.

The teacher has since moved to another school and been put in charge of the Year 8 course.

Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni said Ms Rankine did not understand the Debelle inquiry's recommendations, and claimed the Government oversaw a culture of secrecy.

Mr Pisoni said police had previously stated failure to tell parents of misconduct claims at a school may harm an inquiry as people with information would not be prompted to come forward.

"Mr Debelle made it very clear that parents should be told if there's a possibility that other students could be at risk," he said.

"Once again, parents have been let down by this Government in regards to child protection."