Connect with us

Singapore

Mother speaks out on daughter’s tragic death following bullying at Admiralty Secondary School

A mother shares her heartbreaking story of her daughter’s suicide, caused by bullying at Admiralty Secondary School. This follows a recent bullying incident where a 12-year-old student was assaulted, raising concerns about the school’s failure to protect its students.

Published

on

SINGAPORE: A mother shares her heartbreaking story about her daughter’s death following a recent bullying incident at Admiralty Secondary School.

A 12-year-old student at Admiralty Secondary School was reportedly assaulted by a classmate, resulting in a deep gash on the back of his head.

The incident, which occurred on 7 January, was brought to light by the boy’s uncle, Mr Goh, in a Facebook post that has drawn widespread attention.

In his post on the Complaint Singapore Facebook group, Mr Goh revealed that his nephew, a new student at the school, was attacked in the classroom just four days after starting classes.

Mr Goh claimed that the school initially described the injury as a “minor cut” and informed the family that an ambulance had been called.

However, upon arriving at the hospital, the family was shocked to discover that the injury was far more severe.

The boy sustained a laceration measuring 4 to 5 centimetres long and 7 to 8 millimetres deep.

The boy later recounted to his family that a classmate had repeatedly struck him on the back of the head with a metal water bottle.

Speaking to Mothership, Mr Goh added that another classmate had allegedly pushed his nephew into the attacker, which may have triggered the assault. The exact cause of the altercation remains unclear.

“Where was the supervision? How could such a brutal act happen in a classroom without intervention?” Mr Goh questioned, expressing frustration over the school’s handling of the situation.

School Allegedly Downplays Assault Severity

Mr Goh also alleged that the school downplayed the severity of the incident and handled it insensitively.

He claimed that teachers, the vice-principal, and even the principal were seen joking and laughing while the boy was being rushed to the hospital.

He noted that the only staff member who showed empathy and took the matter seriously was the discipline master, Mr Kenny Wang.

The family has since filed a police report and is demanding accountability.

“This is not just about one child—it’s about ensuring the safety and accountability of a school that is supposed to protect and nurture its students,” Mr Goh wrote.

Police have confirmed receiving a call for assistance and stated that a 12-year-old boy is assisting with investigations.

Admiralty Secondary School has confirmed an incident involving two students on 7 January, which resulted in one student sustaining a cut to the head.

The school clarified that the student was struck with a plastic bottle, not a metal water bottle.

It also confirmed that a police report had been filed and that the school would assist authorities with the investigation.

Mother of Late Student Shares Tragic Bullying Case After 12-Year-Old Assault Incident

In the wake of a recent alleged assault on a 12-year-old student at Admiralty Secondary School, Elaine Yeo has come forward with a heartbreaking account of her late daughter, Angeline, who attended the same school and tragically died by suicide due to bullying.

On 8 January, Ms Yeo took to social media, to recount how bullying at the school led to her daughter’s depression and eventual death.

“My late daughter, Angeline, used to study at this particular school until she died of suicide from bullying and depression,” Ms Yeo wrote.

She revealed that in 2021, she and her ex-husband had reported the bullying to the school’s principal and management team, but their concerns were allegedly dismissed.

“The bullies ostracised my daughter and made everyone avoid her,” she shared.

In a comment posted on the HardWareZone forum, Ms Yeo explained that a group of bullies, whom she referred to as “the recalcitrant trio”, had personally ostracised Angeline and demanded that others steer clear of her.

Adding to their distress, Ms Yeo claimed that instead of addressing the bullying, the school’s principal and management dismissed her daughter’s plight, labelling Angeline as “needy and weak” and portraying Ms Yeo as a “complainer.”

She said the school mishandled the situation, leaving Angeline to suffer in isolation.

Angeline’s mental health deteriorated, and she fell into a deep depression. Tragically, in 2023, Angeline ended her life by jumping off a building.

“She was not even 16 years old at the time of her death,” Ms Yeo shared.

Mother stresses need to address bullying and protect students

Ms Yeo drew a direct connection between her daughter’s experience and the recent assault, expressing frustration over the school’s repeated failure to protect its students.

She appealed to the Ministry of Education and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to ensure that bullying is taken seriously and that the school is held accountable.

Ms Yeo also shared her anger on Reddit, criticising the school’s management for their cover-up and downplaying attitude.

She warned parents to consider transferring their children to other schools to avoid similar experiences.

 

Speaking to The Online Citizen, Ms Yeo explained that she decided to share the story of her late daughter to highlight the reality of bullying.

She shared that the bullying her daughter experienced occurred in 2021, but her daughter continued to struggle with depression, which Ms Yeo attributed to how the school handled the matter by labelling her as “needy.”

Ms Yeo noted that both the principal and the students involved in the bullying had left the school, and urged the public to refrain from “witch hunting.”

She decided to speak out after learning of another bullying incident at the same school.

“I was enraged that another boy had been hurt in a bullying incident at Admiralty Secondary School again, and the school had downplayed it,” she said.

By sharing her story, Ms Yeo hopes to shed light on the reality of bullying.

“When a bullying incident happens, the school, the parents of the bully, and the victim need to work together to resolve the issue promptly and effectively to prevent lingering negative effects on both the victim and the bully,” she said.

Ms Yeo called on the Ministry of Education and schools to implement systems that better address bullying or, ideally, prevent it altogether.

She also emphasised the need for affordable mental healthcare for those affected by anxiety, fear, depression, or other negative impacts of bullying.

MOE Responds

After two years, Angeline’s story was finally covered, following recent reports by MustShareNews (now removed) and Mothership, as shared by Ms Yeo’s friend on Facebook.

In response to Mothership‘s queries, the Ministry of Education (MOE) expressed its condolences to Angeline’s family and loved ones.

A spokesperson said the ministry was “deeply saddened” by the loss and confirmed that the school was “fully aware of the situation” at the time.

The spokesperson noted that the school had “intervened, extended counselling, and facilitated conversations among the schoolmates” to address the issues.

MOE acknowledged that the causes and triggers for suicides are “complex and multifaceted,” emphasising that school leaders strive to provide support and work sensitively with grieving families.

MOE urged the public and media to avoid speculation or doxxing related to the case.

It reaffirmed that schools take a serious stance on hurtful behaviour, guiding students to resolve conflicts and reconcile in cases arising from misunderstandings or careless remarks.

For intentional bullying, the ministry emphasised that disciplinary actions are taken alongside restorative efforts to address the behaviour and prevent recurrence.

Education Minister Emphasises Rehabilitation Over Punishment in School Bullying Cases

During the Parliamentary session on 14 October, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing addressed concerns over school bullying, stating that the number of reported bullying incidents in schools has remained stable over the past five years.

On average, there are about two incidents per 1,000 primary school students and six incidents per 1,000 secondary school students annually.

Bullying incidents involving technology are even less frequent, with fewer than one incident per 1,000 secondary students, and even fewer at the primary level.

Minister Chan acknowledged that today’s students are exposed to more diverse influences, particularly through the internet, making bullying more complex.

To address bullying, the Ministry of Education (MOE) equips students with pro-social skills through the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum, which includes lessons on kindness, conflict resolution, and appropriate behaviour.

Teachers are trained to create supportive classroom environments and address bullying proactively.

Minister Chan explained that the MOE takes a nuanced approach to handling bullying, considering the severity of each incident and the profiles of the students involved.

Disciplinary actions may range from detention and suspension to caning for boys as a last resort. In serious cases, police reports may be filed.

However, he stressed the importance of balancing punishment with rehabilitation to support both victims and perpetrators.

He cautioned against social media behaviour that might hinder a perpetrator’s opportunity for reform.

Sharing bullying incidents online with the intention to expose or isolate the perpetrators could worsen the situation and make it harder for them to mend their ways.

Mr Chan reiterated that the MOE focuses on educative and restorative efforts, rather than just punitive measures.

15 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
15 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Trending