The incident occurred last week and gained attention after a video circulated on social media. In the video, the teacher, wearing a blue shirt, calls the student outside and slaps him twice on the right cheek and once on the left. The student does not react.
After the third slap, the teacher says, "Think before you speak," and leaves. The student’s mother was present during the incident.
On the afternoon of 13/8, Nguyen Van Tinh, principal of Vinh Loc High School in Vinh Loc Commune, confirmed the man in the video is an English teacher at the school, and the student is in 8th grade at Pham Van Hinh Secondary School in Tay Do Commune.
Tinh stated the teacher is a relative of the student’s father. He had been tutoring the student for five years at the request of the student’s parents.
The student had told friends, using vulgar language, that he didn't understand the teacher's instruction. "The teacher was upset when he learned about this, so he went to the student’s house and hit him," Tinh explained, adding that the student was diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum.
Vinh Loc High School has requested a written report and self-criticism from the teacher. The teacher claims he was disciplining the student "from a familial perspective".
Tinh expressed surprise at the teacher's actions, describing him as calm and having over 10 years of experience. "Even when students misbehave, he usually handles it gently and patiently. I have never seen him display a temper with students, colleagues, or anyone else at school," he said.
Following the incident, Vinh Loc High School reiterated appropriate conduct guidelines, both inside and outside of school, to all its teachers.
 |
The teacher hitting the 8th-grade student. Image taken from the video clip. (Author unknown) |
The teacher hitting the 8th-grade student. Image taken from the video clip. (Author unknown)
High school teachers fall under the Department of Education and Training's jurisdiction. Tinh said disciplinary action will be taken after the authorities complete their investigation.
The Education Law stipulates that teachers must not violate students’ honor or physical well-being. Depending on the severity of the violation, there are four disciplinary actions: reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal.
Thanh Hang
