Police Investigating Incident of Boys Filmed Assaulting Qihua Primary School Student
Authorities in Singapore are currently investigating an incident in which several boys were caught on video physically assaulting a student from Qihua Primary School.
In response to media inquiries, the school confirmed on September 23 that they were aware of the incident. The school has provided counselling to the students involved and is collaborating closely with their parents to ensure everyone’s well-being.
"We have also reminded our students to watch out for each other and report any bullying incidents to their teachers," said a school spokesperson. However, no additional details, such as the date of the incident or when it was reported, have been released by the school or the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The event was captured in a 43-second video shared on Telegram on September 20. The footage shows a larger boy in a black T-shirt punching a smaller, uniformed student twice in the stomach. In the background, another voice in Malay is heard encouraging the attack, saying, "Again, again." The victim is seen standing up only to endure further punches and kicks from the larger boy.
Later in the video, the same student is repeatedly attacked in a stairwell, with another boy in a grey hoodie joining in and kicking him. A photo circulating online also shows the victim, dressed in a Qihua Primary School uniform, with a slipper on his head while surrounded by three other boys.
The police have confirmed that a report was lodged and they are actively investigating the matter.
This comes after a similar incident earlier this month involving secondary school students that surfaced online, showing a group taunting a peer. In a July 2023 report, the MOE stated that since 2013, the number of reported bullying incidents has averaged around two cases per 1,000 primary school students and five cases per 1,000 secondary school students each year.
Schools in Singapore emphasize teaching students to set and respect personal boundaries, stand up against bullying, and seek help from trusted adults instead of confronting bullies directly.