MOE and School Under Fire After 9-Year-Old Targeted With Bullying and Death Threats

 

In Sengkang, a mother has gone public with a disturbing account of how her 9-year-old daughter, a Primary 3 student, endured months of harassment and physical abuse at school, only to later become the target of a violent death threat.

The case first came to light on 16 August 2025, when the mother revealed that her daughter had been subjected to repeated bullying since March. The girl was seated in the far corner of the classroom beside three male classmates who turned into her tormentors. She was pinched, shoved, mocked, and even had her stationery destroyed. Her homework was erased, and she was targeted with racial slurs and vulgar insults, including deeply offensive remarks about her family.

On 24 July 2025, the girl told her mother she no longer wanted to attend school. That same day, after reminding a classmate to stay quiet in class, she was physically assaulted by two boys. Her mother contacted one of the boys’ parents, and the next day the school intervened by asking both sides to “apologise to each other.” However, the girl later told her mother that she had been pressured into accepting the arrangement and was denied a change of seating.

Two days later, on 26 July, events escalated dramatically. At 4 a.m., the family sent a formal written complaint to the school and teachers. Barely three hours later, at 7:07 a.m., the mother began receiving harassing calls from unknown numbers. In one recorded message, a boy threatened to “dissect” her daughter, end her life in school, or kill the parents instead. The caller identified himself as one of the boys accused of bullying.

The family immediately filed a police report and submitted evidence, including the audio recordings, to both the school and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Their Member of Parliament was also informed.

Despite this, the bullying continued. On 1 August 2025, the same student who had issued the death threat attempted another attack on the girl at school. On 6 and 7 August, she was physically assaulted three more times within two days. Teachers later said they were unaware and insisted the girl should have reported it herself. The child has since refused to return to school and is now receiving psychological support.

The school has confirmed that three boys were involved and has taken disciplinary action, including suspension. It has also provided counseling support to the girl. However, the mother remains deeply dissatisfied, arguing that the school’s responses were delayed and insufficient. She says her daughter was left vulnerable for months, despite repeated complaints.

In her open letter published on 14 August 2025, the mother issued an urgent appeal to the authorities. She outlined five requests:

1. An immediate transfer of her daughter to a safer school environment.

2. Disciplinary and psychological intervention for the perpetrators.

3. Investigation into teachers who failed in their duty of care.

4. Accountability for school leaders who did not act responsibly.

5. A clear and trackable anti-bullying system to prevent similar incidents.

The Ministry of Education has since replied that it is reviewing the case and requires more time to respond. The Member of Parliament also stated that the matter has been referred to the authorities, and that monitoring will continue.

For the mother, however, the damage has already been done. She has called on Singapore’s education system to place the safety and dignity of students above all else, warning that schools must never become a shelter for perpetrators.