Teacher removed from posts after investigation into 'inappropriate behavior'

A teacher at Shanghai Weiyu Middle School in Xuhui District has been put on probation by the Party and downgraded from his positions for violation of regulations, the district education bureau announced on Saturday.

The bureau said in a statement that it recently received complaints about the teacher, surnamed Chen, over "serious violations against professional teachers' ethics", while the district police also received reports saying that Chen had molested students.

The two parties then set up a joint team to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the issue.

According to the statement, local police inquired with all the people involved and checked surveillance videos, but did not find any evidence that could prove Chen had performed unlawful acts.

But the investigation team did find Chen had "inappropriate bodily contact" with students, such as putting his arm around students’ shoulders and patting on their arms, which made some students feel uncomfortable.

The education bureau said Chen’s behaviors did not conform with the Ministry of Education’s requirements for primary and secondary school teachers.

During the investigation, the joint team also received tip-offs saying that Chen had made use of his position as the director of the general affairs department of the school to use its property privately, an allegation they later found to be true.

The disciplinary commission of the district’s education authority decided to put Chen on probation in the Party, while the education bureau downgraded his job position.

It also ordered the school remove him from his post as the director of the general affairs department and also from teaching work.

The education bureau said the school had loose management and failed to handle issues in a timely manner after receiving reports, and therefore called those responsible to account. It did not give details about who and how they were punished.