Corporal punishment: Grade three student beaten up at school

FAISALABAD:

A grade three student at a private school in Bhowana was beaten up by his teacher with a belt on Tuesday. The teacher said the student had tried to put glue in his classmate’s eyes.

Seven-year-old Ali Haider, son of Abid Hussain, was enrolled at a private school in Bhowana. On Tuesday, his teacher (also the principal) Zafar Iqbal beat him up with a belt and the child received injuries on the back, shoulders, arms and legs. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

When contacted, Iqbal told The Express Tribune that Ali Haidar was an extremely naughty child. He had tried to put Elfy (glue) in a class fellow’s eye. “When I was told about his antics, I punished him a little.”

Zahid Hussain, the child’s uncle, said Ali Haidar and his brother Asad Haidar studied at the same school. A few days ago, their parents had told Iqbal that they were planning to move Asad Haider to another school, he said. “I’m certain that Iqbal he took his anger over this out on Ali Haider.” The Bhowana SHO said, “We have taken the principal into custody…he will be taken to task if he is responsible for injuring the child.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st,  2016.