ABU DHABI // Education chiefs have promised a review into the safety of pupils after a lab technician was fired for apparently beating up a schoolchild.
Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council, said the school regulator would not “tolerate such breaches and malpractices that are considered incompatible with our devoted efforts to build a civilised society, especially in terms of maintaining children’s rights”.
She said that Adec would “conduct more specialised studies to ensure the availability of necessary prevention requirements for all students” to “protect them from any harm that may affect them negatively”.
On Thursday, Adec tweeted that a technician was sacked for “beating up a school student outside school premises”.
The child had visited a health clinic in Al Ain accompanied by a school nurse and the lab technician when the alleged beating took place.
“Adec has issued a decision to immediately end the services of the lab technician,” Dr Al Qubaisi said.
“Moreover, the lab technician shall not be able to work in any private school in the future and would not work again in the field of education in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, whether across public or private schools.”
Misconduct by children should be dealt with under Adec’s code of conduct, and any form of corporal punishment is prohibited, Dr Al Qubaisi said.
She believed attacks on pupils by school staff were very rare.
“Generally speaking, Adec staff are highly dedicated to ensuring the welfare of students is protected, and that relationships among the school community remain positive,” Dr Al Qubaisi said, adding the incident “is alien to our values and morals and does not represent the noble values upheld by the Emirati society”.
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