2023 INCIDENT
After the alleged assault incident came to light online, the mother of an Admiralty Secondary School student who took her own life in 2023 took to Facebook to speak out against bullying.
Addressing the incident on Tuesday, Mr Chan reiterated MOE’s condolences, and stressed that the causes and possible triggers for suicides are complex.
MOE typically does not disclose details of such incidents to the public out of respect for the family’s privacy, he added.
“However, this often leaves our school leaders and teachers vulnerable to misunderstanding, leading to online attacks and abuse of our teachers and staff while they continue to exercise restraint and sensitivity to the families,” said Mr Chan.
“Given that this particular student’s case has now been made known to the public, I would like to assure members of the house that the school had gone above and beyond in supporting this student when she was experiencing emotional challenges.”
When the school was informed that the student was “going through some friendship issues”, it took action to guide the affected students to resolve their differences and reconcile.
A team, comprising experienced school staff and the school counsellor, counselled her and facilitated restorative conversations among the schoolmates, said the education minister.
After the incident, the student experienced other challenges and the school continued to provide support and intervention over several months, said Mr Chan, adding that the school also worked with and supported the student’s family.
“The one-sided allegations lobbed at Admiralty Secondary do not reflect the full picture. They do not do justice to the efforts that the school had made to help the student and her family in time of need,” he added.
“The outcome was not something any one of us wished to see happen. But the intent and efforts of the school to help the child and the family, seeking to partner the family, should not be doubted.”
While a small number of parents may think the schools have not done enough to address their grievances, they should be confident that teachers are taking care of the interests of all the children impartially, said Mr Chan.
“It is useful to remember that it is one thing for children to fight and quarrel. It is quite another for adults to jump in, take sides, aggravate the quarrel and detract us from guiding our children towards reconciliation and rehabilitation,” he added.
In the recent incidents, school leaders were flamed online, the school was unfairly represented and the efforts to support all affected students were left unacknowledged and unappreciated, said the education minister.
Parents are their children’s role models, he added.
“If we act like bullies, online or offline, they will too. Threatening, doxxing and being disrespectful to other children and teachers are not actions that make our children better.”
