A secondary school teacher in this central province was forced to resign as class teacher today after he admitted to badly beating six of his students with a ruler.

Bruise found on the legs of the boys assaulted by teacher Hao. 

The assault caused large bruises on the thighs of the students.

The local Department of Education and Training investigated the incident and concluded that teacher Lam Minh Hao of Ben Van Secondary School in Loc Bon Commune violated the ethic code of teachers, according to the department director Pham Van Hung.

He was ordered to apologise to the students and their families.

Last Saturday, Hao was teaching in another classroom when he noticed that the students in another class were making a loud noise. He went in to punish the six boys who were reported to be the loudest in the absence of a subject teacher.

The students reported that Hao beat the boys for the second time with anger when the boys did not seem repentant after his first beating with the ruler.

The boys’ parents later discovered severe bruises on their children and came to school demanding an explanation for the injuries.

Observers said the penalty on Hao was not hard enough for his assault on the boys, referring to the children’s rights protection law. Traditionally in Vietnam, teachers are among the noblest in society and this social norm makes them at times feel they have the authority to hit students.

VNS