Dubai: The services of a gardener were terminated by a private school here on Sunday after parents accused him of molesting a grade three girl and misbehaving with other students.

The school took “immediate” action after receiving complaints from parents by terminating his services and the man will be “deported within the next 24 hours,” the school said on Sunday. It was, however, not clear if the school has lodged a police complaint.

On Sunday, a letter circulating among parents on WhatsApp said the gardener was allegedly caught “red handed inappropriately touching” a grade three girl during extra curricular activities on Friday.

The letter said this was not the first time the gardener acted in this manner.

Parents of the student involved who wrote the letter declined a comment and asked for their privacy to be respected, saying the letter was circulated without their knowledge and against their wishes.

Meanwhile, after being notified about the gardener’s action, the school took “immediate” action against him and notified the parents in a circular sent on Sunday. “With reference to the incident that took place on Friday, we would like to inform you that the management has taken stringent action against the perpetrator. He has been terminated from his services and will be deported within the next 24 hours,” it stated.

“Please be assured that the safety, security and well-being of our children is of paramount importance to the school and our staff is ever vigilant to ensure the same,” the circular seen by Gulf News stated.

One parent who did not want to be named, said: “I have a daughter in grade two. During Friday and Saturday we have extra-curricular activities where we are supposed to drop our children and leave. My daughter was supposed to join the football activities in January, but now I don’t think I will send her.”

The parent said that even though the services of the gardener have been terminated, she still feels anxious about her daughter’s safety.

Another mother of a grade three student said the school sacking the gardener was not enough. “There should be precautionary measures taken by the school to ensure this will not happen again,” she said.