Corporal punishment: Beaten by teacher, second grader seeks justice

All little Khalilulah remembers is being kicked before falling unconscious.

In a recent incident, a teacher kicked his 10-year old student Khalilulah and seriously injured him in the process on Saturday. “I was talking to my classmates when all of a sudden someone kicked me from behind. I don’t know what happened next,” said the second grader while talking to The Express Tribune. “I found myself in the hospital with bandage on my nose,” he added.

His father, Qawi Khan, said he got to know about his son’s condition through other schoolchildren. His son was rushed him to the Saidu Hospital but was discharged soon after checkups. It was only later that night that his condition worsened and he started vomiting and bleeding. “Children say that he fell headlong when the teacher kicked his back,” said Qawi. The doctors said that he had minor injuries in the head and nose but is out of danger’s way.

When contacted, Assistant District Officer for the area said that the education department has issued directives for strict adherence to the ban on corporal punishment and has endorsed in every meeting that corporal punishment is unacceptable. “Strict action will be taken against the guilty teacher,” he added.

An FIR has been registered against the teacher and legal proceedings will be started soon. The wounded boy and his father have appealed to the government for justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2012.