Teacher allegedly burns student for forgetting multiplication tables

A teacher in northeastern Thailand has injured a third grade student by pressing a heated bottle against his leg, reports say.

On 24 January 2017, a Facebook user named Pan Wippan shared a Facebook post about a third grade student from Non Sa-at District, Udon Thani Province who was physically abused by his maths teacher.

According to Matichon Online, the student, ‘Mark’, suffered burn wounds to his leg after his teacher pressed a hot bottle against the skin for not being able to remember his multiplication tables.

Uthai Phimphonphirom, the Director of Hadstaporn School School where the child is studying, said the teacher did not commit the abuse as punishment. He said the teacher was only playing.

“The teacher will take responsibility for the child’s treatment including the medical costs. I have not reported this matter to Primary Educational Service Area 2 because the victim and his guardians have not pressed the matter further,” said Uthai.

Champi Wongsasuep, the child’s aunt, said that the teacher visited her house to apologise for his actions, saying that he had only been playing.

“Actually when I first saw my nephew, I was angry because I thought that what he did was unreasonable and my nephew was afraid and didn’t want to go to school. But after listening to the teacher who came to explain, I understood,” Matichon quoted Champi as saying.  

Corporal punishment and abuses committed by Thai teachers regularly make headlines in the Thai media, and still appear to be widely accepted in Thai society.

Under current legislation, Article 26 of the Child Protection Act 2003 states that no person shall ‘commit or omit acts which result in torturing a child's body or mind’. However, the law does not clearly prohibit all forms of corporal punishment.

Commit or omit acts which result in torturing a child's body or mind. 

The burn wound on the 3rd grade student's leg (Photo from Tongdee Khmokhao's Facebook)

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