Father accuses school of negligence

Sharjah: Sharjah Educational Zone is investigating the case of a pupil who was beaten up by another pupil in a school.

The action was taken after the student’s father filed a complaint against Abdullah Salem School before the zone’s Legal Affairs section, accusing the school of negligence in giving first aid to his 12-year-old son.

Mona Shuhail, Deputy Director of the Sharjah Educational Zone, said, “We formed a committee to investigate the incident immediately after we received the complaint.”

She stressed that “no tolerance would be shown towards any teacher or whoever is in charge at the school if investigations reveal that the school was negligent in giving the student the necessary medical assistance”.

The accident happened when the Emirati grade 6 pupil was beaten up by another pupil during a fight in the school yard.

Abdullah Al Marzouqi, the student’s father, said, “My son was taken to the social worker who ignored the incident and sent him home while he was suffering from nosebleed and bruises on different parts of his body. My son was sent home in the school bus where he was left bleeding without taking him to a hospital or giving him first aid at the school.

“We were shocked when my son blacked out at our doorstep the moment he got in,” the father said, adding that his son’s kandoura was full of blood.

Al Marzouqi said that he lodged the complaint along with a medical report and pictures of his son bleeding with his clothes full of blood.

“I took my son immediately to Kuwaiti Hospital where he received medical treatment after he was diagnosed with a broken nose, bruises on his back, chest and arms,” Al Marzouqi said.

“The school failed to do its professional and ethical duty, and I hold the school’s fully responsible for negligence in providing my son with the necessary medical assistance,” he added.

Al Marzouqi also reported the case to police accusing the school of negligence and breach of trust of parents who believe they are leaving their sons in safe hands.

He added that his son is now suffering from physical and psychological damage. “My son has been psychologically traumatised as he is still suffering from the physical and mental effects of the incident,” the father said.

Gulf News contacted the school’s principal who declined to comment.

Nawal Al Ramahi is an intern at Gulf News