Teacher Barred After Smuggling Teenager to the UK as a "Slave"

[Social Media]

 

A primary school teacher in the UK has been banned from the classroom after it was revealed she smuggled a 14-year-old girl from Africa into Britain to serve as her "slave." Ernestina Quainoo, 53, who had been teaching children aged five to seven at Cherry Lane Primary School in West Drayton, London, from 2019 until December 2022, had hidden her conviction from her employer. Her criminal past only came to light when a colleague received an old newspaper article detailing the crime she committed in 2008.

 

Ms. Quainoo was convicted for her involvement in human trafficking in 2008, but she failed to disclose this when she was hired by the school. The incident prompted an investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which concluded with a decision to permanently ban her from teaching. The TRA found that her actions were in direct contradiction to her responsibilities as a teacher, calling it a breach of "the very core of her practice."

 

Originally from Ghana, Quainoo and her husband Samuel moved to the UK in 2004. The couple had promised the 14-year-old girl an education and a job, only to subject her to 18 months of forced labor. During this time, the girl was made to cook, clean, and babysit the couple’s children without pay. She was also isolated, prevented from attending school, and given a T-shirt with the phrase "my other name is bitch" printed on it. The teenager’s situation became so dire that she contemplated suicide.

 

The girl ultimately escaped after falling ill and seeking medical assistance. She later reported the abuse to the police and social workers. When questioned by the authorities, Mr. Quainoo claimed that the girl had cast a "voodoo" spell on the couple. In 2008, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Ernestina Quainoo received a two-year suspended sentence for her role in facilitating the girl’s illegal entry into the UK.

 

Despite this, Ms. Quainoo went on to secure a teaching position at Cherry Lane Primary School, where she worked until late 2022. Her conviction went undiscovered until a colleague unearthed the past newspaper report, leading to her resignation in February 2023. The school referred the matter to the TRA, which found that her failure to disclose the conviction violated employment policies.

 

While the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act allows individuals with spent convictions to withhold this information for most job applications, the TRA panel noted that Ms. Quainoo’s conviction was not protected under the act. Initially, she denied having any prior convictions, later disclosing that she had committed an "immigration offence." In her statement, Ms. Quainoo explained that she was charged because she could not prove the girl was a member of her family, saying, "I completely misunderstood the cultural differences that exist between the two [countries]."

 

During the TRA hearing, chairperson Sue Davies concluded that although Ms. Quainoo had incorrectly answered "no" when asked about prior convictions on her application, there was insufficient evidence to prove she had deliberately lied. However, the panel criticized the school for failing to conduct a more thorough investigation when they first employed her, calling their lack of diligence "regrettable."

 

In addition to being barred from teaching, the TRA’s head of investigation, Sarah Buxcey, emphasized that Ms. Quainoo’s past actions contradicted her duty of care towards children, stating, "A prohibition order would therefore prevent such a risk from being present in the future."

 

The ban will remain in place for two years, ensuring that Ms. Quainoo will not be able to return to the teaching profession.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-16

 

 

 

 

[Theforgotten1]

Should be in prison,then deported 

[JonnyF]

Banned from the classroom?

 

She should be jailed? Or is jail only for FaceBook posters now?

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Theforgotten1 said:

Should be in prison,then deported 

Agreed.

[petertucker48]

Deportation for wife and husband NO re-entry.

[herfiehandbag]

Such cultural enrichment!

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Such cultural enrichment!

It’s difficult keeping up with the dog whistles these days.

 

Thank you for at least trying to help out.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s difficult keeping up with the dog whistles these days.

 

Thank you for at least trying to help out.

Not at all, we are after all so often told what the benefits to society are by allowing so many people from quite different cultures to come and live amongst us, particularly in positions of influence such as teachers, so I feel duty  bound to mention it!

 

You of course regard it as a "dog whistle", yet I am sure that many others would see it as a not unreasonable comment.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s difficult keeping up with the dog whistles these days.

 

Thank you for at least trying to help out.

 

I know it must be difficult for you when an immigrant commits such an abhorrent crime against a child.

 

Especially when it involves modern day slavery. 

 

 

[proton]

Schools have to do background checks from the Police when employing staff. Would have shown her convictions, which they then ignored for obvious reasons.

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, proton said:

Schools have to do background checks from the Police when employing staff. Would have shown her convictions, which they then ignored for obvious reasons.

 

They probably needed to get their quota up. 

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Such cultural enrichment!

 

The most amazing thing is there is no jail sentence for deliberately lieing about a conviction for enslaving a child while applying for a job teaching children.

 

She must be thanking her lucky stars she didn't post on FaceBook.  

[Chomper Higgot]

47 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I know it must be difficult for you when an immigrant commits such an abhorrent crime against a child.

 

Especially when it involves modern day slavery. 

 

 

No, not difficult for me Jonny.

 

Definitely difficult for the victim, themselves an immigrant.

 

So maybe blame the actual criminal rather than engage in dog whistling.

[Chomper Higgot]

42 minutes ago, proton said:

Schools have to do background checks from the Police when employing staff. Would have shown her convictions, which they then ignored for obvious reasons.

Did they ignore ?

 

What ‘obvious reasons’?
 

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

The most amazing thing is there is no jail sentence for deliberately lieing about a conviction for enslaving a child while applying for a job teaching children.

 

She must be thanking her lucky stars she didn't post on FaceBook.  

I agree, there should be a jail sentence.

 

Perhaps there will be.

[JonnyF]

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Definitely difficult for the victim, themselves an immigrant.

 

No, the child was not an immigrant. She was an illegally trafficked minor. Trafficked and enslaved by an immigrant who then later lied to get a job working with children.

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

 

No, the child was not an immigrant. She was an illegally trafficked minor. Trafficked and enslaved by an immigrant who then later lied to get a job working with children.

Venn diagrams not your thing?

 

We know she was trafficked, we know she was enslaved.

 

She  also passed through into the UK through immigration, she was an immigrant.

 

 

Edited September 16 by Chomper Higgot

[proton]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Did they ignore ?

 

What ‘obvious reasons’?
 

 

The must have known so must have ignored- diversity target the reason

[Chomper Higgot]

12 minutes ago, proton said:

 

The must have known so must have ignored- diversity target the reason

From the article you are commenting on, I’ve underlined the bits you appear to have missed:

 

 

“Her criminal past only came to light when a colleague received an old newspaper article detailing the crime she committed in 2008.

 

Ms. Quainoo was convicted for her involvement in human trafficking in 2008, but she failed to disclose this when she was hired by the school. The incident prompted an investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which concluded with a decision to permanently ban her from teaching. “

[Kinnock]

So the country that abolished slavery in the 1800's and sent a squadron of warships to Africa to prevent the slave trade, now employs a convicted slaver as a junior school teacher.

 

How the mighty have fallen.

[proton]

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

From the article you are commenting on, I’ve underlined the bits you appear to have missed:

 

 

“Her criminal past only came to light when a colleague received an old newspaper article detailing the crime she committed in 2008.

 

Ms. Quainoo was convicted for her involvement in human trafficking in 2008, but she failed to disclose this when she was hired by the school. The incident prompted an investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which concluded with a decision to permanently ban her from teaching. “

 

 

You obviously have never worked in an educational establishment in the UK, background checks on criminal convictions are mandatory. Of course they will say they did not know when she's been exposed. You appear to be on the side of the human trafficker and slaver, because she's black?

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

 

 

You obviously have never worked in an educational establishment in the UK, background checks on criminal convictions are mandatory. Of course they will say they did not know when she's been exposed. You appear to be on the side of the human trafficker and slaver, because she's black?

I notice you make allegations but fail to produce evidence to back them up:

 

I’ve not made a single statement that can be reasonably construed to be ‘on the side of the human trafficker’.

 

I have very clearly stated I think she should be imprisoned and deported.

 

Perhaps a little less of your emotive nonsense might leave you head space to construct an argument. 

 

[jchfriis]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

"I completely misunderstood the cultural differences that exist between the two [countries]."

So slavery is legal in Ghana?

[john donson]

slave for the wife and sex slave for the husband?

[JonnyF]

23 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Venn diagrams not your thing?

 

Nah, gone off them since Harris discovered what they were. 

 

23 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

We know she was trafficked, we know she was enslaved.

 

She  also passed through into the UK through immigration, she was an immigrant.

 

 

She was trafficked against her will to be a child slave. But if you wish to normalize that by referring to her as an immigrant, well that's on you.  

[JonnyF]

6 hours ago, john donson said:

slave for the wife and sex slave for the husband?

 

Quite possibly. Very common in Ghana around that time.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Ghana 

 

Perhaps Ms Quainoo thought she was culturally enriching the UK?  

[Chomper Higgot]

24 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Nah, gone off them since Harris discovered what they were. 

 

 

She was trafficked against her will to be a child slave. But if you wish to normalize that by referring to her as an immigrant, well that's on you.  

Not normalizing anything Jonny.

 

Perhaps you should consider whether or not the rightwing hate mongering against immigrants plays any part in preventing victims of trafficking seeking help from the police and other authorities.

[JonnyF]

16 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Not normalizing anything Jonny.

 

Perhaps you should consider whether or not the rightwing hate mongering against immigrants plays any part in preventing victims of trafficking seeking help from the police and other authorities.

 

Immigrant trafficks and enslaves a child, gets convicted and then lies about the conviction to get a job working with children and it's the fault of "the right" for "hate mongering"? 😄

 

Ludicrous even by your standards.😆😆

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Immigrant trafficks and enslaves a child, gets convicted and then lies about the conviction to get a job working with children and it's the fault of "the right" for "hate mongering"? 😄

 

Ludicrous even by your standards.😆😆

Another one of your non sequiturs Jonny

Once again I’ll ask you to produce evidence to your claim that I have blamed the rightwing, or indeed rightwing hate mongering for:

 

 “Immigrant trafficks and enslaves a child, gets convicted and then lies about the conviction to get a job working with children”

 

Give it your best go.

[FritsSikkink]

On 9/16/2024 at 5:07 PM, Chomper Higgot said:

She  also passed through into the UK through immigration, she was an immigrant.

 

Where is that mentioned?

Only see: "it was revealed she smuggled a 14-year-old girl from Africa into Britain"