A student has been caught on camera hitting a lecturer in the face after a row in the classroom.

The male student has been reported to police by MCAST, who said in a statement that the educational institution "immeditely took action".

Thousands of people watched the video of the row at the educational institution in Paola. 

"MCAST has given its full support to the staff member, and disciplinary proceedings are in progress”, MCAST said.

“We strongly condemn all forms of violence and consider such actions as an intolerable violation of the dignity of employees and students. The college does not, and will not, tolerate violence against any member of our community,” the statement said.  

It added that the incident “may result in immediate suspension from MCAST and dismissal from the college”.  

The video, on Lovin Malta’s Instagram page shows a lecturer ordering a student to “immediately leave the classroom”.  

The student refused and the lecturer banged on the student’s desk as he shouted: “leave now”.  

As the matter tenses up, the student hit the teacher in the face, shouting obscenities.  

Graham Sansone, head of the Union of Professional Educators (UPE), condemned the conduct of the student and called on the education ministry to protect teachers. 

"Video evidence, captured by a student, depicts a distressing altercation wherein a teacher is seen admonishing a student to leave the classroom, met with defiance," he said.

"Subsequently, the teacher's actions escalate to slamming on the desk, followed by the student striking the teacher in the face."