The children were left with bruises to their bodies after a Nuku'alofa Tonga Side School teacher disciplined them with a bamboo rod. All three victims were under 10 years of age.

Parents are furious that this sort of punishment still goes on in schools here in the Kingdom.

The parents said they could not understand why the students were not disciplined in a more appropriate manner such as picking up rubbish especially given the young age of the students.

Under the Education Schools and General Provision Regulations 2002, regulation 40 number 4 states that Under no circumstances shall a teacher inflict corporal punishment on any student. However the outraged parents are questioning whether the enforcement of these regulations is strong enough.

Parents say they will not tolerate this form of corporal punishment for their children and they are in the process of making a formal complaint to the school through a letter demanding the school and the Ministry of Education do something about this teacher.

The schools principle admits that what the teacher did was wrong and has spoken to the teacher and taken other measures to rectify the situation.

eTonga Tonga News