5th grader rendered deaf for forgetting answer

A teacher beats up a fifth grade student with a stick.

VEHARI: A teacher beat up a fifth grade student with a stick and she lost consciousness. Due to beating one of the girl’s ears swelled and her hearing has been severely affected.

Chak-365 resident laborer Zulfiqar Ali told reporters that they had opposed teacher Nusrat’s relatives in the local bodies elections and that the woman had sought revenge on their child. “The teacher harboured a grudge and beat up our daughter Sadia,” Ali said, adding that his daughter was now unable to hear anything. “She has been screaming for nearly a day because of the intense pain and we took her to the hospital but doctors said that she would need an operation,” he said.

Sadia’s mother said that doctors had informed the family that the damage caused to the girl’s ear drum may prove to be permanent.

Executive district officer (EDO) education Muhammad Yousuf Tahir said that a deputy education officer Aalia Firdos has been sent to review the situation and strict action would be taken in accordance with law after she filed a report. “Abusing children in school is inexcusable and we will take strict action against this behaviour,” Tahir said.

Elementary school teacher Nusrat refused to comment about the situation but other children present in the classroom said the teacher started beating Sadia because she answered a question incorrectly.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2010.