Teacher Ankui Gui's Registration Cancelled After Inappropriate Contact with Children

Key facts

• Ankui Gui's teacher registration has been cancelled by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal.
• Gui engaged in inappropriate physical contact with multiple children between April and May 2021.
• The contact included kissing a 3-year-old on the lips on at least two occasions.
• Gui also kissed the hand of a 4-year-old child.
• He worked as a relief teacher at New Shoots Hobsonville and Pascals Herne Bay.
• The tribunal found Gui demonstrated a concerning pattern of behaviour and a lack of understanding of professional boundaries.
• Gui's actions were deemed serious misconduct, despite no sexual or indecent motivation being found.

Teacher Struck Off for Pattern of Inappropriate Conduct

Ankui Gui, a former early childhood relief teacher, has had his registration cancelled after a pattern of inappropriate physical contact with young children. The decision by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal follows incidents that occurred between April and May 2021. Gui's actions, which included kissing a three-year-old on the lips on multiple occasions, have led to his permanent removal from the profession. The tribunal's findings detail repeated instances of overly intimate behaviour towards multiple students across two different early childhood centres. This conduct, while not found to be sexually motivated, has been classified as serious misconduct, raising significant concerns about professional boundaries and the well-being of learners. Gui had been working as a relief teacher through the Jitbug ECE Recruitment Agency. He was employed at New Shoots Hobsonville and Pascals Herne Bay during the period in question. His interim name suppression has now lapsed, allowing him to be publicly identified.

Details of Inappropriate Physical Contact Emerge

The tribunal's decision outlines several specific instances of Gui's behaviour. He kissed a three-year-old child on the lips at least twice and also kissed the hand of a four-year-old girl. These actions were not isolated incidents but part of a concerning pattern observed over several weeks. Further disturbing conduct included one teacher witnessing Gui nuzzle his head into a three-year-old girl's chest while she was on a playground box. Another incident involved tickling a four-year-old girl before kissing her hand. These behaviours were noted by colleagues and parents, with at least one child feeling uncomfortable enough to report the conduct to her parents, who then alerted the centre staff.

Warning Ignored, Misconduct Continues

Despite being warned about the inappropriateness of his conduct while working at New Shoots, Gui continued to engage in similar behaviour at Pascals Herne Bay. This persistence underscored a fundamental lack of understanding of professional boundaries and an inability or unwillingness to change his behaviour, according to the tribunal. Colleagues and parents expressed discomfort with Gui's actions. Some staff members felt compelled to intervene or report the incidents. The father of the four-year-old girl whose hand was kissed provided evidence, stating his daughter, who usually did not discuss such matters, did so following the incident, prompting him to raise it with the centre.

Tribunal Cites Pattern of Behaviour and Harm to Children

In her final decision, Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal chair Jamie O'Sullivan stated that Gui's conduct was not isolated or accidental. Instead, it "demonstrated a concerning pattern of inappropriate physical contact with multiple children across two early childhood centres." She emphasised that the conduct was overly intimate and crossed professional boundaries, particularly for a relief teacher who had not established long-term relationships with the children. The tribunal found that Gui's actions adversely affected the well-being of learners and would likely bring the teaching profession into disrepute. The children's well-being was likely harmed as they were placed in situations where their bodily autonomy and boundaries were not respected. Consequently, Gui's registration was cancelled, and he was censured.

Professional Consequences and Future Implications

The cancellation of Ankui Gui's registration means he is no longer permitted to teach in New Zealand. The Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal's decision reflects a commitment to upholding professional standards and protecting children within the education system. The ruling serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries in early childhood education. The tribunal's emphasis on the pattern of behaviour and the impact on children's well-being highlights the seriousness with which such misconduct is treated.

The bottom line

• Ankui Gui's teaching registration has been permanently cancelled by the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal.
• The cancellation follows findings of repeated inappropriate physical contact with children in 2021.
• Incidents included kissing a 3-year-old on the lips on multiple occasions and kissing a 4-year-old's hand.
• The tribunal found Gui demonstrated a concerning pattern of behaviour and a lack of understanding of professional boundaries.
• His actions were deemed serious misconduct, impacting child well-being and the reputation of the teaching profession.
• Gui worked as a relief teacher at two Auckland early childhood centres before his registration was removed.