A teacher at a prominent all-boy school in Kingston was reportedly ganged and assaulted after he woke a sleeping student on Tuesday, THE WEEKEND STAR understands.

School officials could not be reached for comment, but the Constabulary Communication Network said the teacher was arranging a classroom when he reportedly pulled a desk which hit another on which a student was resting his head.

The student, it is reported, began behaving boisterously and the teacher insisted that they both visit the principal's office.

A SCUFFLE

Further reports are that a scuffle ensued as other students got involved and held on to the teacher. He was allegedly hit in the face and on the neck. The matter was reported to the police and is to be brought before the court next week. THE WEEKEND STAR learnt that school was disrupted the following day as teachers refused to attend classes.

Alton Davis, public relations manager at the Ministry of Education, said yesterday that the ministry is aware of the incident. Davis said steps are being taken to ensure that the situation is resolved.

"We cannot go into the school and part fights, the ministry cannot do everything, there are principals who deal with that sort of thing ... .The ministry is aware and will be working towards sorting it out," Davis said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Jamaica Teachers' Association were unsuccessful.

When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the school yesterday, students made a mockery of the incident, saying the assaulted teacher has lost their respect and should find a next job.

"Di teacha a big man and him mek some likkle third-former beat him up... . Him too soft man, him cyaa gimmi nuh chat again," one third-form student said.