Police in the town of Al-Wadiyain in Ahad Rufaidah are investigating claims that a 12-year-old schoolboy was whipped by a teacher in front of his classmates. The complaint, brought by the boy's father, led to a medical report stating that the boy had suffered “bruising at the base of the back as a result of being hit by a hard object”. The report said the injuries would require “at least five days to heal as long as no complications emerge”. According to the father, the incident occurred when the teacher observed misbehavior while supervising midday prayers. “What my son did in no way merited such a punishment,” said Saeed Al-Qahtani. “This turns a school into a place for bullying pupils, and the teacher should be punished for the mental and physical damage done to my son.” Al-Qahtani called upon the school to take “severe measures” against the teacher. “They need to rid the school of its atmosphere of fear and threats and turn it into one of trust and reassurance for pupils,” he said. Abdulrahman Faisal, General Director of Education in Asir, condemned any use of physical punishment on school pupils. “The Ministry of Education has completely banned the use of physical punishment and the carrying of canes,” Faisal said. “Physical punishment has serious physical and psychological effects and any problems can be addressed through proper educational methods.”
