Sharjah schools told to avoid violent punishment

Sharjah - The Sharjah Education Zone warned schools in the emirate against denying students education and transportation under the pretext of “disciplining them”.

An official from the zone urged schools to seek services of social workers in counselling misbehaving students. “Schools can seek help from the zone in serious cases. They should never resort to violence against students,” the official said.

The warning comes following a complaint filed at the Ministry of Education (MoE) by a parent against a teacher of a Sharjah-based school for allegedly beating and verbally abusing his son, who studies in Grade 8. The father claimed that the teacher refused to let his son use the school transportation for a year despite having paid for it. The father claimed the teacher “ill-treated” his son just because he was late to board the schoolbus one day.

The father also lodged a complaint with the Sharjah Public Prosecution.

An MoE official told Khaleej Times that the complaint, which was lodged on the MoE hotline, is being investigated. If found guilty, the MoE will take the necessary action based on prevailing rules, he said. The father claimed that his son is suffering from depression due to the ill treatment meted out by the teacher, who teaches Arabic at the school.

The Sharjah Education Zone official said a documented investigation must be carried out by schools in cases of student misbehaviour. Many private and public schools in the emirate prevent students from attending school due to misbehaviour.   — afkarali@khaleejtimes.com