The Ministry of Education, represented by the Riyadh Education Administration, has launched an investigation into allegations that a private schoolteacher forced students to choose to kiss his feet or forehead in exchange for either the examination questions or 10 free points. The probe follows Saudi Gazette and Okaz reports on the bizarre incident on Saturday. The Education Administration has formed a committee comprising officials and specialists to investigate the teacher, determine the facts and take firm action against him and the administration of the private school if the incident is found to be true. The Education Administration said that the alleged behavior was a violation of education policy. The administration warned that the Educational Cases Committee in the followup department of the Riyadh Education Administration, will take the necessary action if the Syrian teacher had violated the rights of students. The accused teacher, who teaches mathematics, did not report to school on Saturday. He was absent due to undisclosed reasons. For his part, Dr. Ahmad Aal Mufrih, Vice Chairman of the Education and Scientific Research Affairs Committee at the Shoura Council, said the teacher's alleged action was inappropriate. Aal Mufrih described the teacher's alleged actions as “unjust and unacceptable from a social and humanitarian” point of view. He said that if the incident was found to be true, this reflects a lack of concern and care for the feelings of students. He said that “such an act is shameful” and that there should be punishment that will act as a deterrent. The teacher should be sacked and placed on a blacklist so that he will not be allowed to teach in any field in the Kingdom, said Aal Mufrih. A prominent official at the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) described the act as unacceptable. He said that a teacher is supposed to set an example and be a guide for students with his/her conduct. He added that this alleged act by the teacher was a violation of the students' rights. The NSHR wants to examine the teacher to see whether he is sane. The official, who spoke to Okaz Saturday, pledged to follow up on the case with the related authorities. At the same time, he stressed that the society reserves its right to implement the regulations against the teacher, who violated the education process. The official called for drawing up guidelines to regulate dealings between teachers and students. This is to ensure that both teachers and students have a clear idea of their responsibilities and duties. The students are from the Al-Bara'a Private School, which means “Innocence” in Arabic, reported Saudi Gazette on Saturday. Some students kneeled to kiss the feet of the Syrian teacher, while others had to get on their toes to kiss the 42-year-old on the forehead. Some desperate students opted for both. Muhammad Al-Aqeeli, Principal of Al-Bara'a Private School, was quoted as saying that an investigation has been launched into the incident and action will be taken against the teacher. The school will terminate the teacher's contract and ask the authorities for his final deportation. “Many concerns had been raised earlier about the teacher. He has developed a bad education record,” Al
