UAE: Is corporal punishment allowed in schools? The discipline and rules for expelling students in Abu Dhabi have been explained – News

Schools can create safe and respectful spaces for students’ personal and academic development by establishing clear rules of conduct and promptly resolving any issues.

Educational institutions play an important role in creating a safe and positive learning environment. All forms of corporal punishment are strictly prohibited in schools across the country so that students feel safe from physical punishment and violence.

Promoting positive behavior is a priority, especially when it comes to student misbehavior. However, private schools in Abu Dhabi are prohibited from using the following methods of student discipline:

Corporal punishment (use of physical force for the purpose of discipline or punishment)
Disclosure of personal information without consent
Psychological punishment (verbal insult, threats)
Locking the student in the school premises
Seizure of a student’s belongings without a decision of the conduct committee
A decline or threat of decline in a student’s academic grade/score
Punishment of the group for the misconduct of an individual
Imposing additional school tasks
Ridiculing, insulting or humiliating a student in private or in public
Preventing the student from using the toilet or consuming water and food
Detention outside of school hours without parental consent

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Schools should establish a student behavior policy that outlines acceptable corrective action, ensuring that it is proportionate, age appropriate and consistent with disciplinary guidelines. What is allowed to schools when disciplinary action is taken against a student?

Disciplinary actions may include discussions with students and parents
Official and recorded meetings with the student and/or parents
Verbal warnings
Written warnings to parents
Temporary or permanent removal from classes under appropriate supervision (on-site suspension)
Loss of school privileges
Confiscation of inappropriate personal items (mobile phone or music player).
Supervision during breaks (with parental consent)
Managed restorative public work
Temporary suspension of a student from school premises (suspension from school)
Permanent exclusion of a student from school due to expulsion/cancellation of his enrollment (expulsion)

Schools should ensure that their misconduct policies and procedures distinguish between different levels of misconduct. Not all cases of inappropriate behavior warrant exclusion from extracurricular activities. However, certain offenses classified at levels two, three, and four may result in a student being expelled from school.

Levels of misconduct

The second level offenses include leaving or entering a classroom without permission, failing to attend required school activities without an acceptable reason, and engaging in physical fights or bullying peers. Additional offenses include causing minor damage to school property, using a telephone without permission and verbally abusing members of the school community. Storage or use of tobacco products, refusal to comply with safety rules.

The third level offenses include bullying, intimidating, harassing or abusing any member of the school community, including defamation on social media. Other offenses include forgery, impersonation and academic dishonesty such as cheating or plagiarism. Leaving school premises without permission, damaging school property and setting off fire alarms or fire extinguishers are also included. Additional violations include vandalizing a school bus, assaulting others without causing bodily harm, reckless driving on school property, and taking or distributing media to staff or students without consent.

The fourth level Offenses include using communication tools for illegal or immoral purposes that discredit the school and its community. Other offenses include possessing or distributing weapons, committing sexual assault or harassment, and assaulting another person causing bodily harm. Theft, capture or distribution of illegal content, leaking of exam questions and setting fire to school property are also included. Insulting political, religious or public figures in the UAE, consuming or distributing alcohol or drugs, promoting culturally inappropriate ideas, engaging in illegal digital activities and trespassing on school grounds outside of school hours are serious offences. Persistent bullying or harassment, including defamation on social media.

Schools should outline clear, step-by-step disciplinary procedures for dealing with student misbehavior. While schools may exercise leniency in the application of disciplinary measures, they retain the right to follow the procedures described lower.

Misdemeanor level – Two

The first time – a written warning: The student must sign an obligation not to commit a crime. Call the parents who have to sign a contract for the support of their child from passers-by.

The second time – suspension in place: Temporarily suspend the student for up to two days and assign supervised learning tasks within the school, notifying the parents. Also notify both the student and the parent of the second written warning. Parents must sign a commitment to support the Behavior Management Committee’s (BMC) agreed strategy for pupil reform.

The third time – suspension in place: Temporarily suspend the student for up to three days and assign supervised learning tasks within the school. Issue a written final warning to both the student and the student’s parents. Notify the commission to complete a plan to resolve the student’s behavior problem. Parents must sign a consent form in support of the proposed strategy.

More than 3 times – expulsion: Immediately suspend the student from school until the end of the investigation for a maximum of five days, notifying the parents.

The committee will evaluate the evidence and determine a set of final disciplinary actions, which may include expulsion. If the student continues to repeat the violation after these measures, the school can request an exclusion from Adek. An application to Adek must include evidence of completion of all previous steps, as well as evidence of appropriate support and counseling in accordance with the behavior strategy.

Degree of misdemeanor – Three

First time – suspension in place: Immediately suspend the student from school. The commission will evaluate the evidence and determine disciplinary sanctions. The school will inform parents of the action taken and require them to sign an undertaking to uphold the agreed strategy.

The second time – away suspension: Immediately suspend the student from school for up to five days until the end of the investigation, notifying the parents. The committee will evaluate the evidence and determine the final disciplinary action. A final written warning will be given to both the student and the parent. The student and parents are called to the school to familiarize themselves with the commission’s decision.

The third time is an exception: The student will be immediately suspended from school for five days pending an investigation with parents notified. The committee will assess the evidence and agree on the final disciplinary action, including expulsion. After completing the previous steps, the school can request Adek to exclude the student if the student continues to repeat the violation. When applying to Adek, a school must provide evidence that all the previous steps have been completed, including evidence that sufficient counseling has been provided.

Degree of misdemeanor – Fourth

First time – off-site suspension: Immediately suspend the student from school until the end of the investigation with notification of the parents. The committee evaluates the evidence and agrees on a disciplinary plan.

The second time – expulsion: Immediately suspend the student’s education for 5 days pending an investigation with notification of the parents. The committee will assess the evidence and agree on the final disciplinary action, including expulsion. After completing the previous steps, the school can request Adek to exclude the student if the student continues to repeat the violation. When applying to Adek, a school must provide evidence that all the previous stages have been followed, including evidence of adequate counseling in line with their behavior strategy.

Adek has the right to investigate any complaint related to suspension and expulsion after the final decision of the school. However, this investigation can only take place before a final decision is made if the school does not issue its decision within the prescribed period.

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Ajanta Pol

Ajanta Paul is a senior editor on the digital team. A born leader and news viewer, she thrives on breaking news and critical situations – and enjoys talking about societal issues that matter to UAE residents.