11-Year-Old Boy in Yishun Suffers Concussion After School Bullying Incident

News of school bullying has been making the headlines, but they usually comprise video footage of a bullying beating up a victim.

This time, we’ve a victim hospitalised instead.

Here’s what happened.

11-Year-Old Student Suffers Concussion After School Bullying Incident

A primary school student in Yishun was hospitalised with a mild concussion after getting beaten up by a classmate.

The incident reportedly happened on 8 October, during an oral examination session.

The mother told Shin Min Daily News that her son was waiting in the school canteen when the incident occurred.

He accidentally slipped against a freshly painted wall, getting white paint on his uniform.

When another male student asked about the paint stains, her son stayed quiet about his fall.

This apparently angered the other student, who started hurling verbal abuse. The situation quickly turned physical when her son asked him to stop the name-calling.

The bully pushed the victim to the ground and started hitting him. He allegedly punched the victim’s face and head repeatedly, and kicked him too. Other students then stepped in to stop the bully.

After the attack, teachers provided immediate first aid with ice packs.

Later that day, the victim complained of dizziness and nausea during dinner, prompting an emergency hospital visit where doctors diagnosed him with a mild concussion.

Photos showed visible swelling on the victim’s head and cheeks.

Two weeks after the incident, bruising appeared on his face, leading to another medical checkup which showed no serious complications.

The police confirmed receiving a report about the incident.

The school spokesperson said they have taken disciplinary action against the aggressor and contacted his parents. They added that they do not tolerate bullying, and are supporting the injured student and his mother while taking steps to maintain his safety at school.

The victim returned to school after one day of hospitalization to continue with his examinations scheduled for 10 October.

School Bullying Brought Up in Parliament Recently

In a parliamentary session last month, Singapore’s Education Minister, Chan Chun Sing, addressed concerns about school bullying after various videos of school bullying surfaced.

He reported that the average number of bullying incidents has remained steady over the past five years, with approximately two incidents per 1,000 primary school students and six per 1,000 secondary school students annually.

Minister Chan emphasized the importance of a rehabilitative approach, stating that while disciplinary actions such as detention, suspension, or even legal consequences may be applied, the objective is to help students learn from their mistakes.

He highlighted that caning remains a “last resort” for boys involved in severe bullying cases.

He also cautioned against the circulation of bullying videos online, noting that such actions could unintentionally normalize bullying behaviours and hinder the rehabilitation of perpetrators.