JEDDAH — Education authorities in Jeddah has taken penal action against a middle school teacher for physically and verbally assaulting one of his pupils. Director of Jeddah Education Affairs Abdullah Al-Thaqafi said the directorate has suspended the teacher from service pending investigations. "We do not condone such violence and ill treatment of students. Assault in any form is not the way to teach a student good morals. The education regulations clearly state the ban of corporal punishment in all schools with no exception," said Al-Thaqafi. He also said the incident happened at a middle school with a program for talented students. "The school was a special school for talented students and not a regular school. I am very surprised that such a primitive incident took place there. The incident shed light on the need to raise awareness on students' rights and to encourage teachers to see themselves as caretakers who should be compassionate and loving toward their students," said Al-Thaqafi. He said the teacher has made an apology after he found out that one of the classmates had documented the incident on a video. "The apology does not have any status and will not hinder the investigation. The video went viral on social media shocking the nation that such abuse can happen at a prestigious school with a special program where teachers are chosen after a rigorous vetting process," said Al-Thaqafi. Hasan Shararah said he rejected the apology of the teacher who assaulted his son. "The teacher beat and slapped my son and cursed him in front of his classmates. I have reported him to the police and I will not accept a mere apology to let go of the incident. My son did nothing wrong. He only asked the teacher about a term he came across," said Shararah. He said the teacher recorded a video of himself apologizing to his son and child accepting the apology. "That feeble attempt at an apology will not do. I have medical reports proving the bruises and injuries my son has. He was traumatized and he does not want to go back to school because of the incident," said Shararah.
