The incident occurred on the evening of 10/2 at the Lau Tong school campus of Nam Lau Primary School in Nam Lau commune.
During a 26-minute social media livestream, a parent recounted searching for her first-grade son after he didn't come home from school. At 7 PM, she discovered him inside his classroom, which was dark and had two doors locked. The mother cried, repeatedly stating, "the teacher locked my child in here." The boy, initially calm, began crying after talking to his mother. Villagers then broke the classroom lock to free him.
Immediately after, the parent livestreamed for nearly three hours, documenting the meeting between police, local authorities, residents, and the teacher.
The incident gained significant attention on social media platforms last night. The two livestream videos garnered 5 million views and over 100,000 interactions, with many expressing outrage and demanding a clear explanation.
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The child was found by his mother in the locked classroom at 7 PM on 10/2. *Photo from video*
Speaking to VnExpress on the morning of 11/2, Luong Thi Ngo, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of Nam Lau Commune People's Council, stated that the Party Committee and authorities visited the family last night to investigate the incident. Based on preliminary information gathered by police from the teacher and school, officials confirmed it was an oversight.
"The teacher stated she did not act intentionally," Ngo said.
Ngo added that the classroom has wide window openings, which students often use to enter and exit. She has instructed the principal to check for any blind spots within the classroom that might have prevented the person locking up from noticing a student still inside.
Ngo also mentioned that yesterday, the village held a housewarming ceremony, where locals celebrated and consumed alcohol. Before finding the boy in the classroom, his family had searched near a stream. This, she suggested, "could have led to pent-up emotions" and a strong reaction.
Consequently, authorities primarily focused on maintaining order last night, sealing the classroom, and encouraging the family to take their child home to help him recover emotionally. This morning, officials will continue to interview those involved to clarify the incident.
The Lau Tong school campus is located nearly two hours by motorbike from the commune center. The school serves approximately 250 students, predominantly from the Thai ethnic group.
*By Thanh Hang*
