Zwolle teacher dismissed over child pornography

A 51-year-old teacher from school group Groene Welle in Zwolle was dismissed after child pornography was found in his possession. The judiciary launched a criminal investigation against him, De Stentor reports.

The man was arrested and interrogated by the police in early March. His computers and data carriers were seized and pornographic pictures and videos of children were found, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor said to the newspaper. "We suspect him of being in the possession of child pornography."

The teacher himself informed the school that he is a suspect in a criminal investigation. After conversations with the school leadership, the decision was made to dismiss him, Frida Hengeveld, director of Groene Welle, said to De Stentor. "He told us that he had done something stupid in his private life and that he has a lot of regret", Hengeveld said. "Safety and respect are the core values of our school. That does not fit with a suspect in a criminal investigation into child pornography." Which is why the school decided to part ways with the teacher immediately.

According to both the Prosecutor and school, there is no concrete evidence that the teacher abused children himself. He's been working at the vocational department of Groene Welle for several years, working with kids aged 16 years and older.

"Like all our teachers he possessed a certificate of good conduct", Hengeveld said to the newspaper. "We investigated internally for signs about incidents with this teacher in our school. That seems not to be the case. Should signals arise, we will report them to the police immediately. We are fully cooperating."