SINGAPORE — The students involved in a bullying case at Shuqun Secondary School — which took place in the presence of an adjunct teacher — are currently undergoing counselling, following investigations into the incident by the school.

The less-than-a-minute-long video clip, which was shared widely on social media today (Sept 21), showed a male student hitting the head and face of a smaller-sized classmate seated at his desk, as background music played on.

The bigger student then took a book and hit the same boy repeatedly on the head with it, and did the same thing to another male student seated nearby. Both boys did not retaliate. Amid all this, another student was seen jumping on the teacher’s table. 

In response to media queries, Shuqun Secondary principal Chia Hai Siang said of the incident, which happened on Friday (Sept 18): “The school has investigated, and is counselling the students involved ... What might first begin as playfulness could potentially end up hurting others. The student involved has been counselled and he deeply regrets his actions.” 

He added that the subject teacher was on childcare leave, and the school has spoken to the adjunct teacher who was present during the incident. He did not explain why the teacher did not intervene. Mr Chia said the school will continue to work with the students involved to ensure appropriate behaviour in future, and their parents have been informed of the actions taken by the school.

The Ministry of Education said today that it takes a serious view of bullying in schools, and does not condone such behaviour.

Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director at the Youth Services Centre at the Singapore Children’s Society, said the school made the right call to investigate the matter further as there could be a number of unseen elements at play.

She added that it is important to find out from the two boys who had been hit about their feelings, noting that they might have been further embarrassed by the widely circulated video.

Other students who saw the incident might also have felt helpless at that point, and the school could speak to them to understand their feelings.

In terms of follow-up action, Dr Balhetchet said: “The school has to (manage) the students involved, but also send out a right message to other students that bullying is not acceptable.”