The Teachers Association of Maldives (TAM) has said that a clash broke out between a student and a teacher inside a classroom at Addu High School after the student played an obscene video on the classroom screen.

In a statement, the TAM said the incident occurred after the teacher tried to seize the student's phone for playing an obscene video on the classroom screen.

"This association believes that just like one child has his rights, the remaining 30 students in the classroom also have their rights," the statement read.

TAM said it is unacceptable to target and shame the teacher who stands up for the remaining children in the classroom.

Punishing the teacher and failing to take action against students in such incidents result in many qualified teachers leaving the career, TAM said.

The statement added that there has been previous concerns of teachers facing bullying and harassment from students in Addu High School.

“One of the clearest indications that the school management has failed to act on such incidents is that students are allowed to carry mobile phones into their classes, and while this permission is granted, the school does not have a policy on classroom phone use,” TAM stated.