SEVERAL grade six students of the Dunrobin Primary School in St Andrew, who on Monday witnessed a brutal attack on their teacher by two knife-wielding thugs, are to receive counselling, school officials have disclosed.

The students were forced to scamper to safety and scream for help as two men barged into their classroom and physically assaulted the female teacher who they allegedly accused of reprimanding a child under her care.

The teacher was hospitalised after she was severely beaten, including being stomped in the face repeatedly and kicked in the throat. It was the students' screams that alerted other school staff to their colleague's ordeal.

"The students will be getting counselling. We have sought outside help," Dunrobin Principal Robert Gillies told the Jamaica Observer.

Yesterday, a police team was dispatched to the school as nervous teachers instruct their equally anxious students. Outside the school gate, a small group of concerned parents stood discussing the attack.

"The country gone to the dogs. If people can enter a classroom and attack a female teacher in this manner then we have no hope. I hope the police catch them and deal with them harshly," a woman said.

The attackers reportedly signed a security register before entering the school compound. The reportedly fled with knives in hand after their brazen assault on the educator. Residents of the nearby community of Cassia Park reportedly gave chase but the men escaped in a motor car, which was parked on Red Hills Road.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that the teacher was not harmed with the knife.

On Monday night an emergency parent teachers' meeting was called where the incident was discussed.