An investigation has been ordered by South Korea’s acting President, after a teacher fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl at an elementary school.

According to BBC News, the teacher confessed to stabbing the student and also had a stab wound to the neck that police said might be self-inflicted.

South Korea’s acting President has since ordered an investigation and urged authorities to implement measures to avoid a recurrence.

The incident occurred yesterday and, according to BBC News, “The Daejeon education office earlier said the teacher had requested a six-month leave of absence citing depression on 9 December, but had returned to school just 20 days later after a doctor assessed her as being fit to work.”

Furthermore, the teacher was said to be involved in an altercation with another teacher just days before the child was fatally stabbed.

The teacher is in hospital recovering from her stab wound, having received stitches.