Corporal punishment: Student hospitalised after teacher’s assault

Hospital officials confirm the use of violence against the boy.

HARIPUR: A student was hospitalised after being bruised and injured by a short-tempered teacher at a private educational institute, police and family members said.

Hospital officials confirmed the use of violence against the boy. Hamza Kiyani, a student of grade nine at Waqas Academy Khanpur, said he was chatting with his classmates during a free period when the teacher, Waqar, entered and accused him of causing a commotion in the classroom. Hamza said the teacher tried to punish him and when he refused, Waqar beat him with a cane “for over fifteen minutes”. Hamza collapsed after the severe beating and one of his classmates took him home.



A complaint was not filed against the teacher since Hamza’s father, Muzaffar Iqbal Kiyani, was out of town. The boy’s father later accompanied him to Khanpur police station and told the media the severity of the assault could be gauged from the medical report, which stated the boy was suffering from fever, bruises and skin-deep injuries. The police referred the victim to Khanpur Hospital.

Dr Naima told journalists the boy was traumatised by the incident and needed psychological counseling alongside physical treatment.

At present, the teacher’s family is trying to strike a compromise with the victim’s family. When approached by the media, the teacher and the school principal refused to comment. The provincial government had banned corporal punishment earlier since it was believed to be one of the key factors responsible for the high dropout rate in schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2013.