The New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) has suspended the student caught on video assaulting three of his schoolmates late last month, the Ministry of Education said yesterday.
The student has claimed that he was bullied, the ministry said in a statement.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed the student standing with a belt in hand dealing three students, who were seated, lashes to the head and about the upper body. The student with the belt could also be seen using his hands to hit his schoolmates.
Additionally, the attacker was heard asking the trio why they were troubling him about his food, as he was cheered on by other students, who were recording the incident.
The ministry’s statement said that the four students were recruited under the Ministry of Public Security’s Citizens’ Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP). It said that the attacker is undergoing counselling assisted by the CSSP.
“He had informed that he has been a victim of bullying by his class and schoolmates,” the statement said.
It added that the students who were beaten will also receive counselling as coordinated by the CSSP counsellor, the NATI Welfare Officer and the Ministry of Education’s Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer.
The ministry, in its statement, explained that an investigation was launched after the video of the incident became public. A meeting was held with the academic staff of the institution, while the students involved in the incident were interviewed in the presence of their parents/guardians. Also, a meeting was held with the parents/guardians of all students of the NATI.
According to the ministry, in the initial stages of the investigation, a brief meeting was held with the administration of the institute, senior officers of the CSSP, some members of the Board of Governors of NATI and the Assistant Chief Education Officer – Technical. An assembly was also held with the entire student population to reiterate the Ministry of Education’s non-tolerance to violence.
“The students were also reminded of their signed commitment, at the time of admission to the institute, to obey the rules of the institute by ensuring that matters are reported to the school as against taking matters into one’s hands,” the ministry said.
It also revealed that the NATI and CSSP have been conducting welfare and counselling sessions with other CSSP students including conflict management, and anger control and management. These services have also been extended to NATI’s regular students.
“Among the recommended actions are that the frequency of assemblies at the institution must be increased and sections of the rules and procedures must be discussed at these assemblies. At these assemblies, students will be encouraged to report incidents and the procedure for doing so must be explained,” the statement said.
Additionally, to further address the issue of bullying on a larger scale, the institute will be launching an anti-bullying campaign to ensure that students are sensitised about the negative effects of bullying. The institute is to be declared a ‘No-Bullying’ zone, the ministry said.
