The Ministry of Education (MOE) has confirmed that all three Montfort Secondary School students involved in a viral video from February will face disciplinary action for their roles in the incident. MOE stated on Monday, March 3, that all students shared responsibility for what transpired and will receive “appropriate punishment.”
The widely shared video, first posted on Facebook on February 22, showed a group of students approaching a boy from behind. One student tripped and pushed him to the ground, while another kicked him twice. The boy got up and walked away, but another student tripped him again. The video quickly gained attention, being shared over 10,000 times before it was removed by February 23 at 11 pm.
MOE’s statement clarified that the student who appeared to be attacked in the video had earlier been involved in a fight with two classmates. A teacher had intervened in the classroom, stopping the altercation. However, after school dismissal, the two classmates continued following him to the stairway and canteen, where the confrontation resumed.
MOE emphasized that because all parties were involved in the conflict, disciplinary action was necessary to ensure they understood the severity of their actions. The three Secondary 1 students will face consequences such as caning, detention, and suspension. The school has also provided counseling for all involved students and engaged their parents regarding the disciplinary measures.
MOE also acknowledged that a police report had been filed and that investigations were ongoing. The ministry stressed that any form of hurtful behavior, including bullying or fighting, is unacceptable in schools. They reiterated that when such incidents occur, school personnel work to understand the underlying causes, help students learn from their actions, and prevent future incidents.
Following the video's circulation, a Facebook user named Joleen Wee, who identified herself as the mother of the student who was pushed, voiced her concerns in a post on February 23. She described the incident as a “traumatic experience” for her son, claiming that he developed a fear of attending school and socializing with friends afterward.
In her post, she strongly disagreed with how the school and MOE handled the situation, stating that the school failed to protect its students. She also made a distinction between bullying and assault, asserting that her son was not merely bullied but physically attacked. She confirmed that she had already lodged a police report.
In response to such concerns, MOE urged the public to allow schools and teachers the necessary time and space to investigate incidents thoroughly and work with students and parents to resolve them. The ministry also highlighted that external parties sometimes attempt to exert influence in such cases and emphasized the importance of keeping schools as safe spaces for children to learn and grow.
This incident has sparked discussions on school discipline, bullying prevention, and how educational institutions handle conflicts between students. While MOE has taken action against the students involved, the case remains under police investigation, and the broader conversation about student safety and school policies continues.
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