A 13-year-old secondary school student in Larnaca punched his teacher in the stomach after she reprimanded him, according to philenews information.
The teacher filed a complaint with Larnaca Police last Wednesday, which launched an investigation. She was examined by doctors at Larnaca hospital following the attack.
Because the student is under 14 and therefore not criminally responsible, a specific procedure for such cases is being followed, according to sources.
Spyros Chrysostomou, spokesman for Larnaca Police Directorate, said the case is being investigated in cooperation with the Education Ministry and Social Welfare Services.
Loizos Konstantinou, president of the Confederation of Secondary Education Parents’ Associations, said the case is already being handled according to established regulations. “The procedure has taken its course, whatever the regulations provide will happen. We won’t even examine whether he was right or wrong to react—a reaction doesn’t mean using physical violence against anyone, let alone a teacher,” he said.
Konstantinou told SIGMA that “we’ve reached the point where violence has been used,” noting he contacted the OELMEK president to convey parents’ support to teachers. “I condemn any form of violence. Against teachers, whatever complaint a student or parent may have, they can file a complaint but under no circumstances use physical violence against a teacher,” he said.
Costas Costa, president of the Federation of Secondary and Technical Education Parents’ Associations of Larnaca, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA): “We condemn the incident and demand its full investigation and accountability.” He noted the incident is particularly worrying, adding: “That’s why all preventive measures should be taken and, where necessary, specific measures to address the phenomenon of delinquency.”