Boy in Thailand, 13, hospitalised after doing 800 squats as punishment for not submitting homework

A boy in Thailand was recently hospitalised with severe leg pain after he was made to do 800 squats at school for not submitting his homework.

The Thailand Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) confirmed on Feb. 5 that the punishment happened at a secondary school in the country's Lopburi province, The Thaiger reported.

It has also launched an investigation into the teacher involved.

According to the Rights and Liberties Protection Department under Thailand's Ministry of Justice, the student was 13.

The incident came to light when his father posted about it on Facebook on Feb. 3.

The father wrote that his son, named Otto, felt intense pain after returning home from school one day, prompting the family to bring him to a hospital.

In an update on the night of Feb. 3, Otto's father said that his son was still in pain. He shared photos of Otto elevating his legs and holding out a bunch of medicine.

Excessive punishment

In his post, Otto's father questioned the punishment, and expressed concern that it was "excessive".

He suggested that cleaning toilets or collecting litter could have been a better punishment.

"I’d also like to ask the teacher this: how would you react if your son were to suffer kidney failure, acute muscle breakdown, or disability?" he added.

He also said a nurse who examined Otto claimed that two female students from the same school had recently went to the hospital with similar symptoms.

Investigation

As part of the OBEC's probe into the incident, a formal investigative committee has been created, and will report its findings within seven days.

In the meantime, the teacher involved has been temporarily reassigned to the local education office, according to The Thaiger.

The Rights and Liberties Protection Department has also commented that the punishment may have violated the country's anti-torture law.

Additionally, district officials have visited Otto's home and apologised to the family.

Thailand's Ministry of Social Development has also given the family 3,000 baht as initial financial assistance, and might provide further support.

Lingering anxiety

As of Feb. 5, Otto's kidney function has been normal, and his muscle enzyme levels have stabilised, but he still requires physical therapy, according to The Thaiger.

Although the teacher involved has been temporarily removed from the school, Otto’s father said that the family remains uneasy about the teacher potentially returning.

He explained that his son wants to stay at the school but change classrooms due to lingering anxiety.

The teacher has offered to visit the family, but they declined.

Top images from Tan Adisak Chaitawat/Facebook