At a time when Kerala government taking all-out efforts to promote Malayalam language in the state, a controversy has erupted in the commercial capital, Kochi, following the student of a private school been beaten by a teacher for speaking the Malayalam language in the class.

A class V student belonging to Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School at Njarackal in Ernakulam district was beaten by an English teacher for talking Malayalam with his friends in her class on Wednesday. According to the school management authorities, the English teacher was not the official staff of the school. A school staff, said, "Usually we hire private agencies to teach communicative English for our students so that they will learn to speak English through activities rather than just sticking to our curriculum. The teacher belonged to that agency, she had pinched the student not just for speaking Malayalam but also for not doing some tasks she had given for the class."

Following a complaint raised of the child's parents, the school management has terminated the teacher. Antony, manager of Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School, said, "Officially we have terminated the teacher on Thursday itself and also proceedings are ongoing for terminating the contract with the agency."

The child's parents have also complained to the childline and child welfare committee (CWC), who in turn visited the school on Friday. "The pinched marks are evident on the kid's body and we have visited the school authorities to collect detailed information. The parents have withdrawn their complaint following the termination of the teacher from the school," said a child welfare committee official.