Many fresh graduate teachers have expressed their reluctance to teach at the secondary school level.

The age difference between teachers and students has narrowed significantly, causing some educators to wonder whether this is the reason behind the rise in the number of attacks against teachers.

Pupils and teachers can sometimes be as little as four years apart, which creates clashes in the classroom because the two are considered part of the same generation. The dramatic increase in the number of physical attacks against teachers has raised concerns among education authorities.

Many fresh graduate teachers are fearful of being appointed at secondary levels, as they consider the age gap to be too narrow.

Khalid Ahmad, a teacher who recently graduated from college, said he initially resisted his appointment at the secondary level, fearing that the narrow gap in age between himself and his pupils would provoke students to undermine his authority.

“I have heard many stories about the ill-treatment of teachers, especially in higher grade levels,” he said.

He pointed out that students look upon young teachers differently and do not bestow the same respect shown to older teachers.

Hamdan Ali, another teacher, expresses similar sentiment.

“The situation in classrooms becomes more tense during mid-terms and finals,” he said.

Ali cited an incident in which a fellow teacher chose to remain in class after school hours for fear of getting physically attacked by students waiting outside.

“The principal intervened and called the students’ parents, who came and collected their children. Nevertheless, our cars got damaged in the process,” he explained. He said violence against teachers occurs mostly in remote areas and is usually due to social reasons. Salah Saad, the father of a high school teacher, said his son is the victim of physical and psychological abuse from his students.

“He often receives threats on his mobile phone, which prompted me to visit the Education Department in the region and file a complaint. However, it was futile. The threats continued,” he said.

Saad decried the Ministry of Education’s attitude toward the issue, questioning why sterner action has not been taken against aggressive students.