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Toronto : A man convicted of sexually assaulting a female student under the age of 14 and banned from ever teaching in a publicly-funded school is still leading a private tutoring program in Scarborough, according to a media report.
A report in the Toronto Star says the principal of Dhaka Learning Centre was found guilty of touching a female student’s bra, squeezing her breasts and rubbing the zipper of her pants during a lesson.
According to a decision report from the Ontario College of Teachers, Yusuf Ali Talukder, who is currently listed on the website of Dhaka Learning Centre, was sentenced to six months in jail and three years’ probation in 2010 for sexually assaulting a female student.
Talukder maintained his innocence when contacted by the Star.
The Ontario College of Teachers revoked the man’s teaching credentials in 2013, banning him from ever teaching at any publicly-funded school in Ontario. The report said the man’s misconduct was “not any less significant because it occurred in a private school setting.”
Dhaka Learning Centre’s website says Talukder used to work as a teacher in the Peel District School Board.
The College of Teacher’s decision to revoke Taklukder’s teaching credentials did not impact his ability to continue tutoring privately, as the college does not regulate the conduct of teachers in private schools.
“The Ontario College of Teachers has no jurisdiction over the conduct of teachers in private and independent schools, except where they voluntarily choose to become members of the College,” Ontario College of Teachers spokesperson Brian Jamieson wrote in an email.
As part of his sentence, the court banned Talukder from being in the presence of people under the age of 16, or working in a setting that placed him “in a position of trust or authority” over people under the age of 16. But the Star reports that the judge in the case amended that condition to allow him to work around minors, but only in the presence of another adult.
