JEDDAH: Assaults on any teacher will not be tolerated for any reason, said Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, director of education in Jeddah.

He stated that he was personally following up with security authorities an assault on a physical education teacher. Unidentified persons attacked the teacher, Abdullah Al-Zahrani, at Obadah bin Al-Samat Elementary School in the Samer neighborhood of Jeddah.

The attack took place when he was performing his duty in the courtyard of the school at the beginning of the school day.

The teacher heard a knocking on the backdoor of the school which was closed at the time. He told the persons knocking to go to the main gate but they refused. He opened the door in answer to their demands and two persons dragged him out to the street and, after making sure of his identity, began beating him and then left the scene.

The teacher and the school filed a complaint following the incident.

Al-Thaqafi reiterated that threatening and assaulting teachers will not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Their safety is a red line which must not be crossed,” he said.

On Monday, Al-Thaqafi visited the school accompanied by Messdif Al-Hazmi, director of Al-Safa Education Department. They were assured of the good health of the teacher and he was praised for more than 37 years service to the nation and the community.

The two officials watched the incident which was filmed by the school cameras.