Student suspended; discipline program, apology required

The student involved in the physical altercation between a student and teacher in a classroom at Addu High School has also been suspended. 

The altercation occurred between a Grade 12 student of the school and a B-Tech teacher from India. 

Yesterday, the Education Ministry suspended the teacher and forwarded the incident for police investigation. 

A ministry official told Mihaaru News today that the student has also been suspended today. The school has been instructed to have the child complete a behaviour modification program, the official said. 

"The student has been suspended until he completes a behaviour modification program, a discipline program, and issues an apology. Regardless of how long the program may take, it will go on until the student apologizes of his own volition," the official said. 

Although students were suspended over such disciplinary matters in the past, the practice had been halted until yesterday, the official said. The ministry has now decided to suspend students if they physically assault teachers or exhibit such behaviour in classrooms, according to the official. 

The circulating footage shows the student hitting the teacher as well. The teacher is seen to retaliate in kind, while other students were also present in the classroom. 

Many criticized the ministry's decision to first take action against the teacher alone. 

It has been reported that the altercation occurred following the student showing a video from his phone.