Shocking 'exclusive' video of vulgar student is not so exclusive after all

Less than an hour after Newsbook published 'exclusive' footage of a student verbally abusing his teacher, the Education Ministry said the shocking video was shot back in 2017 and the student in question was punished for it.

"This video was shot back in 2017, and when school authorities were notified, disciplinary measures were taken. The student was suspended and stopped attending the school in question," the ministry said, adding that the student in the video was directed to a rehabilitative educational programme.

The school, not mentioned in the statement by name, had even filed a police report at the time.

The ministry said that there was zero tolerance for this kind of misdemeanour.

Earlier in the year, the Malta Union of Teachers released a survey showing that a majority of teachers experienced aggression in schools in the past two years.

"The ministry insists that there should be a culture of respect in the education sector between students and teachers and between parents and teachers," a spokesperson for the ministry said.

Newsbook's post on Facebook was commented on 77 times and shared 22 times.