Teacher suspended for corporal punishment

The Education Ministry suspended the teacher, who allegedly beat up an 11-year-old boy brutally. In a press statement, the Ministry confirmed that a special committee was formed to investigate the incident as directed by the Minister, Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi.

“The committee investigated the attack on a student by a teacher in Hidd Elementary and Intermediate Boys’ School and decided to suspend the teacher for ten days, without pay,” the statement read.

The Ministry’s Public Relations and Media Acting Director Khaleel Al Rumaithi stated: “The committee’s decision followed interrogating all parties involved in the incident.”

However, while speaking to DT News, the boy’s father denied that anyone from the Ministry had spoken to him or his son.

Al Rumaithi concluded his statement by affirming that “the Ministry’s instructions in regard to beating students are clear, as mentioned in the civil service law and its executive panel. Disciplinary measures against violating teachers will be taken and penalties would vary between temporary to permanent suspension from work.”

He added that the Ministry is currently observing the matter, as it has already been referred to the police by the parent.

As DT News reported on Thursday, an eleven-year-old Bahraini student was beaten up by his teacher, causing a wound in his face that required two stitches, about two centimetres away from his right eye. The boy’s father reported the incident to the police.

MP denied entry to school

Meanwhile, Hidd parliamentary representative, MP Abdulrahman Bu Ali, criticised the Ministry’s lack of cooperation, as he was denied entry to the school following a direct order from the Minister.

Bu Ali said in a statement that he headed to the school on Thursday morning, after obtaining the victim’s father’s permission.

“The principal of the school informed that I’m not allowed to enter the school. I have personally called up the Minister and the undersecretary, but there was no reply. Later, an employee at the Ministry informed me that the Minister agreed that I could only meet the Undersecretary Dr. Abdulla Al Mottawa,” Bu Ali said.

He commented: “This is not at all the way the Ministry should communicate with the representatives of the people. It’s contrary to the instructions of the HRH Premier to the Ministers.”

In reply to the MP’s statements, the Ministry stressed that it’s not his jurisdiction to enter the school and meet the student or the teacher.

“According to Article 32 of Bahrain’s Constitution, jurisdictions in the Kingdom should be separated. Article 7 says the state is responsible for ensuring the sanctity of educational institutions, while Article 48 states that each Minister is responsible for his/her Ministry’s affairs. According to the law, an MP cannot individually enter a school and request to interrogate the teacher and the student,” the Ministry clarified.