The administration at a prominent high school in Manchester is trying to determine the circumstances under which a male student from that institution physically assaulted a female teacher recently.

THE STAR has learnt that one day last week, a young teacher who has been at the school for more than three years was the victim of a slap in her face by a male student.

It is said that the teacher has a male cousin at the school who wore a large pair of pants to school on the day in question. It is understood that her cousin was being mocked for wearing the pants by other students and she decided that it was too much for him.

To prevent the mocking of her male cousin from escalating, the teacher, who it is understood drives a motorcar, decided to take him home and went to his class to get him. This apparently did not go down well with the students who were mocking the boy.

THE STAR learnt that one male student realised that the teacher was taking the boy from their presence and surprised her with a slap to the face.

It is understood that the teacher who appeared embarrassed, retaliated by slapping the boy in his face and caused a stir. The boy reportedly went home and reported to his parents that he was boxed by the teacher, without telling the full story.

Reports are that the boy's mother turned up at the school the following morning and visited a vice-principal's office to lodge a complaint. It is understood that the vice-principal went to the teacher and asked her to apologise to the student for having boxed him. This did not go down well with the female teacher, as she refused to apologise.

THE STAR understands that the matter is being investigated by the Jamaica Teachers' Association, and the teacher has reported the assault to the Manchester police.