A student was expelled and several others caned after they were found to be in possession of upskirt images of six female teachers from their secondary school.

Seven boys were found to have taken the photos and videos with their smartphones, and 23 others received and/or shared the images.

The expelled boy had been involved in a similar incident at his previous school.

He was found to be in possession of the images but he was not the one who had recorded them, said the principal.

After receiving a tip-off about the incident, The New Paper yesterday contacted the all-boys school, which confirmed the incident.

The principal told TNP that the school received information about the upskirt images on Oct 5 and immediately started an investigation to round up the culprits.

He said: "We found there were students taking upskirt photos and videos, and sharing them. There were 30 students."

He also said the school decided to handle the matter internally after he gave the teachers the option of making a police report.

But when contacted last night, the police told TNP that they had received a report on the incident, and investigations were ongoing. It is not known who had made the report.

We are not naming the school to protect the victims.

The 30 boys, most of whom are in Secondary 2 and 3, and a handful of them in Sec 1, had upskirt images of six female teachers.

Some of the boys were caned to send a strong message - this is not how you treat women - to the school population.

As it was during the exam period, the school punished them only after their exams were over.

TWO STROKES EACH

On Oct 19, the seven main culprits, who are in Sec 1 to Sec 3, were caned in front of their respective levels. They were given two strokes each on the buttocks.

The principal said nine others who had received and shared the images were given similar caning but in his office.

The remaining culprits were given suspended caning punishment, detention duties and told to return to school during the holidays for counselling sessions.

Should they commit other offences, they will be caned.

Their parents have been informed about the incident and the punishment meted out.

On the caning of the students, the principal said he needed to send a strong message to them and the school population that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated and would be dealt with swiftly.

He added: "The school takes a serious view of misconduct by students."

On the expelled student, the principal said the boy had been given a second chance by the school after he was involved in a similar incident at another school.

"We took him in and gave him a chance, but he did not use it. We want to help young people learn, that's why we were prepared to give him that chance," he said.

"It was heartbreaking he did not take that opportunity."

The principal added that the six teachers were like his daughters and he had held many meetings with them.

"To see someone do something like this to them, it's very painful. I don't want to see anyone hurt in this manner," he said.

The principal also said that the teachers were angry but he commended them for talking to the culprits to tell them that what they did was wrong.

He added that when the boys realised what they had done, "the impact of how much they have hurt their teachers was very painful".

"They cried, they knew they were wrong. Their teachers forgave them."

The principal said he told the teachers they were free to make police reports, and he also informed the culprits' parents what he had told the teachers.

SAD

"Some of them were sad their sons were so thoughtless and disrespectful towards their teachers," said the principal.

He added that the 30 culprits had been stripped of any awards they had won this year to show the severity of the situation. They are also not allowed to take their smartphones to school until further review.

The principal said the school had reminded all students about good moral values and how technology should not be abused.

He reminded all his students: "It's not acceptable behaviour for young men. As men, they are supposed to protect the ladies, not take advantage of them. To do something like this is so very wrong."

It's not acceptable behaviour for young men. As men, they are supposed to protect the ladies, not take advantage of them. To do something like this is so very wrong.

- The school principal