The situation was finally sorted out and we received another teacher. This new teacher was very strict and took no prisoners. Needless to say, the behavior of the class was exemplary from that point on.
Some of the younger teachers did not really know how to administer corporal punishment and it became a bit of a joke. I remember one or two student teachers being escorted out of a classroom by some senior girls who were not even prefects. Most went quietly but some put up a bit of a struggle. Most of my fellow classmates were not too concerned and just went on with whatever they were doing at the time.