Teacher sentenced to community service for forcing ADHD pupil out of classroom

SINGAPORE - On Thursday, a 36-year-old primary school teacher was sentenced to 60 hours of community service for using force on a pupil last year.

Frustrated that the 11-year-old pupil was late and did not comply with his instruction to stand outside the classroom, the teacher pulled the child and dragged him to another room, according to The Straits Times.

The incident happened at a top primary school in the east, and the pupil was suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the newspaper reported.

On Jul 2, 2013, the boy was feeling unwell and arrived late at the school with his mother. The mother waited a short distance away after leaving the boy outside his classroom.

After morning assembly, when the boy's classmates returned to the classroom, the teacher asked the boy to explain why he was late.

When the boy did not say anything, the teacher told him to stand outside the classroom, according to The Straits Times.

However, the boy did not listen to the teacher and was pulled out of the classroom.

The mother, who witnessed the incident, immediately reported it to the vice-principal and lodged a police report later in the day, The Straits Times reported.

The teacher, who pleaded guilty to the offence, could have been jailed for up to three months and fined $1,500.

stephluo@sph.com.sg