JEDDAH: A father has laid a charge against a teacher for slapping and verbally abusing his son at school for gifted students.

The father of the pupil Hassan Haitham Shrara filed the assault charge at the Shamaliyah Police Station, according to a report in a local publication on Tuesday. He said the teacher had hit his son after the boy had asked what the words “cradle of civilization” meant.

Shrara said that he would continue with his legal action even though there has now been a video circulating of the teacher apologizing to the boy. He said that his son does not want to go to school because he is afraid of the teacher.

The attack was filmed by fellow students and posted on several websites on Sunday, showing the teacher slapping and verbally abusing the child. The incident took place at a school for the gifted. Teachers employed have to undergo special tests before they are appointed.

Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, head of the Jeddah Education Department, condemned the attack and said that the Education Ministry wants all teachers to follow rules related to proper behavior. An investigation is underway.