15-year-old Emirati student beaten by teacher in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah - "Traces of the plastic pipe can be seen all over Omar's body."

A 15-year-old Emirati student was severely beaten on Thursday by his physical education teacher at the Shaam Secondary School for Boys.
Mohammed Ahmed Saeed, brother of the student, told Khaleej Times that the Egyptian teacher, identified only as Waleed, used an old plastic pipe to beat his grade-ten younger brother Omar.
"He beat him several times all over his body, mainly on his chest, head, and back following a claimed heated argument during which my younger brother said nothing, but the teacher kept beating him until another teacher came in and stopped the assault," he said.
Traces of the plastic pipe can be seen all over Omar's body, he added. "Corporal punishment should never be tolerated, particularly as all the classmates of Omar assured that the said teacher used to beat and insult all the students."
Mohammed was first alerted about the incident by a classmate of his brother Omar. "He talked to me on his mobile phone today (Thursday) around 11: 30 AM."
As Mohammed was busy, he sent his other brother, who works with the Ras Al Khaimah Police, to go to the school and check on their young brother who might have done something wrong as he first thought.
"When he arrived there, the school staff asked him to cool down, and the principal tried to end the problem in an amicable way, but my brother was so angry and insisted on resorting to the police."
When asked about the incident, Omar said they were instructed by a teacher to go to the school yard to spend a free class. "When there, Waleed, the teacher, asked them to go back, and they did."
When the other teacher sent them back, the teacher complained and asked them to stay at a corner of the school yard, he explained. "When Omar headed to the said place along with friends, the teacher swore at him, and named him bull."
Omar did not take it and objected, but the teacher insulted him and his parents again. "When Omar objected again, Waleed the teacher used an old plastic and beat him several times until another teacher stopped him."
Omar went to the school administration to complain, but they all tried to cool him down, and refused to let him inform his parents as they had already done with many earlier physical assaults, many students said.
"My other brother went to the school, managed to take Omar out of school, got a medical report from the hospital, and headed to the Shaam police station to complain against the said teacher."
Mohammed confirmed that his brother was known for his good manners and high academic performance. "He was never beaten. Only once by mistake at the preliminary school, and the teacher apologized to him before all his classmates."
Khaleej Times attempted to reach the school administration or the teacher, but got to reply.
A source at the RAK Education Zone said they have been alerted by the incident, and have started an investigation. "A decision shall be taken on Sunday as per the investigations to be done."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah