SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Monday, 3 March, that all three Montfort Secondary School students seen in a widely shared video of a bullying incident will receive “appropriate punishment.”
According to the ministry, they all bear some responsibility for the altercation, and disciplinary action has been taken.
The video, posted on Facebook on 22 February, showed a group of Montfort students approaching a boy from behind.
One student tripped and pushed him to the ground, another kicked him twice, and as the boy got up and walked away, a student tripped him again.
The video was shared over 10,000 times before it became unavailable by 11 pm on 23 February.
MOE: Incident stemmed from earlier classroom fight
MOE clarified that the Secondary 1 student seen being pushed had been involved in an earlier fight with two classmates.
The fight was initially stopped by a teacher in the classroom but resumed at the stairway and canteen after school dismissal.
“As all parties share some responsibility for the incident, disciplinary action has been taken to help them understand the severity and consequences of their actions,” the ministry stated.
MOE confirmed that the three students would face punishment, which includes caning, detention, and suspension.
They have also undergone counselling, and their parents have been informed of the school’s disciplinary measures.
Additionally, MOE acknowledged that a police report had been lodged and confirmed that investigations were ongoing.
The ministry reiterated its stance against violence in schools, stating, “Any form of hurtful behaviour is not acceptable and has no place in our schools.”
It also urged the public to allow schools and teachers time to investigate such matters, highlighting concerns about external parties influencing school affairs.
“We hope that we can work together to protect schools as a safe space for children to learn and grow,” MOE stated.
Following the video’s circulation, a Facebook user named Joleen Wee, who identified herself as the mother of the student pushed in the video, spoke out about the incident.
In a post on 23 February, she described her son’s “traumatic experience” and criticised the school’s handling of the situation.
“What the school and MOE have replied or answered has raised concerns about the school’s failure to protect its students,” she wrote.
She added that her son had developed a fear of attending school and interacting with friends after the incident.
Wee emphasised that the incident was not merely bullying but an assault, stating that she had already filed a police report.
MOE reaffirmed its commitment to addressing such incidents, stating that school personnel work to understand the root causes of conflicts and ensure students learn the consequences of their actions.
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