A TEN-YEAR-OLD autistic boy was put in a cage in his classroom as a way to manage his behaviour in a “disgusting” case that has led to a public school principal being suspended.

An investigation is under way into how the Canberra school allowed the structure, a 2m by 2m cage made from pool fencing, to be used as a “withdrawal space” for the child.

The investigation comes as an Australian children’s disability advocacy group told a UN committee there were “frequent” instances of abuse of disabled children in schools.

Children with Disability Australia made a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, saying members’ children had been locked in time-out rooms for extended periods, schools had employed martial arts instructors for “behaviour management” and children had been denied ­requests to go to the toilet.

The metal cage was erected inside the boy’s classroom on March 10. The school only removed the barbaric device when ordered to do so by the ACT Education Department, after the boy’s parents made a complaint about it to the Human Rights Commission.

ACT Education Minister Joy Burch revealed the scandal yesterday, which was also World Autism Awareness Day.

“Whether it was in the school for 17 days, 17 minutes or 17 seconds, it had no place there,” Ms Burch said.

“Words can’t express the disappointment and horror I have that in our schools anyone would consider a structure of this nature in any way, shape or form acceptable.”

The school’s principal has been suspended during the investigation and two senior teachers with “expertise” in behaviour management and disability education have been assigned to the school,” the ACT Education Department said in a statement.

Education Director-General Diane Joseph said withdrawal spaces were commonly used to deal with children with behavioural issues and special needs. However, they usually took a very different form, such as a safe reading corner separated from the main classroom, a teaching assistant taking a student for a walk in school grounds or taking ­students into a smaller area.

The student in question has remained at the school. He and his family have been offered support and two extra special-needs teachers are now working at the school.