A teacher has complained to the Ministry of Education in Asir about a headmistress who prevented her from leaving the school premises, even though she was experiencing labor pains, due to the fact that a follow up committee was visiting the school.

The teacher at Al-Zalal Secondary School said she escaped through the school gates after she went into labor during her eighth month, after the headmistress refused to give her first aid or allow her to go to hospital. The teacher underwent a cesarean half an hour after leaving the school.

The teacher said: “At seven o’clock on the first day of school I felt I was bleeding, and started having labor pains. I went to the headmistress to ask for permission to go to hospital, but the headmistress refused. So I went to the school’s assistant and a number of teachers and administrators asked her to allow me to go, but she refused, saying it was the first day of school and a number of officials from the follow up directorate were to visit the school.”

“After a few hours I called my husband in Riyadh, who sent his nephew to try to convince the guard to tell the headmistress that the teacher’s family was waiting outside, but she refused to let me out. I ran away and went straight to hospital where I had a cesarean section,” she said.

The teacher confirmed that she is now recovering well, and that the baby has been placed in incubation until its growth is completed. The teacher was surprised by the behavior of the headmistress saying other teachers and administrators witnessed the whole event.

The headmistress, Ayesha Al-Sharif, said: “I was harmed by the defamation which was published on social media websites, and I call on the ministry to open an investigation into the incident. I did not prevent her from going out; I simply asked that she call her husband so she does not leave the school with a driver in that condition.”

“I have been a headmistress for 25 years and have been commended for my work. So how could I abandon my humanity and abuse teachers under any circumstance? There is no quarrel between me and this teacher, and I don’t know why she did this. I merely apply the regulations and administrative directions which prevent a teacher from leaving school premises unless she is accompanied by a guardian,” she said.

She said the story began when the teacher entered her office at 7:30 in the morning and asked for permission to leave school without offering any explanations.

She said that at this time she did not see any signs of labor symptoms, and the teacher seemed to be in good health. “I told her to call her guardian, to which she replied she wanted to leave with the driver. She went to the assistants’ room and asked them to let her out, but I was adamant and asked her to call her guardian because I was afraid something might happen on the way,” she added. The teacher’s guardian came at eight o’clock and the teacher left without telling the headmistress.

The headmistress called on authorities to take action to restore her reputation which has been tarnished by social media sites and newspapers.

Official records prove the teacher gave birth just hours after she left school.

Official spokesman for the Asir Education Department Mohammad bin Manea Al-Yahya said the directorate formed an investigation committee to look into the teacher’s complaints. Members of the committee have visited the school and results will be made public before taking necessary action according to the rules and regulations of the ministry.