Tuen Mun Tutoring Center Faces Alleged Corporal Punishment Probe; Teacher Claims Axe Hit Was 'Play'
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Feng Ying Education (風穎教育), a chain tutoring center with a branch at Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal, faces allegations of corporal punishment after a student posted on social media on September 12, 2026, claiming a male teacher struck him on the head with a hard plastic toy axe. The student described the incident as extremely painful and alleged this was not the first time the teacher had used various objects to hit students. The tutoring center provided CCTV footage to HK01, showing the teacher using the axe to lightly tap the student's head, with students laughing afterward. Management acknowledged the teacher acted inappropriately and will impose disciplinary measures.
Key Points
- A male student at Feng Ying Education's Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal branch posted on Threads on September 12, alleging a male teacher struck him with a hard plastic toy axe
- The student claimed he was merely talking to classmates when the teacher became angry, asking "Are you here to play or to study?" before hitting him
- The student alleged the teacher previously used wooden rulers and coat hangers to punish students, describing the incidents as resembling "playing billiards"
- CCTV footage provided by the tutoring center shows the teacher taking the toy axe from a wall corner and lightly striking the student's head once
- The male teacher involved defended himself, stating he was "just playing" with the student and that the hitting and scolding were separate incidents
- The tutoring center's responsible person acknowledged the teacher "did something wrong" and stated the teacher would receive a warning and disciplinary action
- The student's parents reviewed the matter with the tutoring center and decided not to report the incident to police
Why It Matters
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about corporal punishment practices in Hong Kong's private tutoring industry, where teachers may resort to physical discipline despite its illegality in educational settings. The case has sparked public debate about teacher conduct standards, with the tutoring center's release of CCTV footage attempting to demonstrate transparency while simultaneously confirming inappropriate behavior by staff members.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about corporal punishment practices in Hong Kong's private tutoring industry, where teachers may resort to physical discipline despite its illegality in educational settings. The case has sparked public debate about teacher conduct standards, with the tutoring center's release of CCTV footage attempting to demonstrate transparency while simultaneously confirming inappropriate behavior by staff members.