SHARJAH // A teacher has been accused of punishing a six-year-old boy by forcing him to lie on the floor and then standing on him.
Physical punishment has been banned in schools since 1998 and the teacher faces dismissal if the allegation is proven.
The child's parents complained to Sharjah Education Zone and its report has gone to the Ministry of Education.
"The incident came to our attention at the beginning of the year," said Sawsan Essa Al Kashf, head of the legal affairs unit at the zone. "It saddened us because we did not expect such behaviour from a female teacher.
"She is still teaching at the school because the laws do not allow us to take action unless the ministry approves."
Zone officials conducted interviews at the state primary school, where several pupils complained about corporal punishment used by the expatriate teacher.
The education ministry also established a code of conduct two years ago that teachers should follow when disciplining pupils, which involves establishing a committee at school level, meeting the parents and working with a social worker to address the problem.
Mariam Abdulla, the principal of Al Andalus School in Sharjah, said teachers hitting pupils was a minor issue there. "Our teachers often work with the social worker to find the issue and tackle it," she said.
"With a troublesome pupil we use methods of positive reinforcement where we reward them for good behaviour."
She said physical punishment would not solve behavioural issues. "It's not good because the child will start hating to come to school. There are other ways to punish them without hurting them."
Ms Al Kashf said teachers were aware of the protocol. "If they do not follow it, there will be consequences. For a small offence the teacher may be suspended and can receive a salary cut of up to 10 days. If it is a major problem, they can be fired."
The Ministry of Education could not be reached for comment.
