SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA: A teacher in Kuala Klawang who caned a student might not have known that the students had hurt her back in a fall.

As a result of the caning, Nurlieyana Nazran, 17, now cannot walk.

She is being warded at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban.

"Due to the student's injury, she was absent from school for some time. So it could be that the teacher was unaware that the student had an injury to her lower back," state education director Abdullah Mohamad said yesterday.

"I understand that this teacher is known to be strict and wanted all her students to excel in their coming Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination."

Abdullah promised a full investigation into the Thursday incident.

"We will not act rashly. There are procedures to be followed to ensure all parties are not victimised. I also hope educationists will abide by the guidelines on caning students, especially girls."

The female teacher had apologised to Nurlieyana and her family during a visit to the hospital and her home.

Nurlieyana's teachers, classmates and officers from the state education department also visited her at the hospital yesterday.

An NST report said the teacher caned her on the buttocks for not being able to answer a Mathematics question.