Dubai: Parents of schoolchildren enrolled in a school in Rashidiya, where a stabbing incident took place last week, have called for stronger security measures and student-teacher policy reforms.
Roj Pascual, an eighth grader, was stabbed four times by a seventh grader inside a classroom at The Philippine School in Rashidiya on Tuesday morning. One of his lungs was punctured during the attack, leading to his being admitted at Rashid Hospital.
According to Roj in an earlier interview, he and the seventh grader, identified as R.O., had a fist fight before the stabbing occurred. The reason behind the incident is still unconfirmed as the case is under police investigation.
Parents who have children registered the school expressed their concern over the welfare and safety of their children.
Gulf News repeatedly contacted the school officials but no one could be reached for comment at the time of going to press. The school principal, in an earlier interview, emphasised that there was no lack of security in the school.
One mother, whose daughter is a classmate of R.O., said the pupils who witnessed the incident should be dealt with properly by school counsellors.
“The pupils who saw the whole incident should undergo formal counselling sessions to debrief them. It shouldn’t be just a short one but a programme dedicated to help them recover from the trauma,” the mother, who requested anonymity, told Gulf News.
She said her daughter, 13, wasn’t in the classroom when the incident happened but saw the blood stains after returning from the mid-morning break.
“She couldn’t sleep for a few nights after that. Whenever she recalls what she had seen, she cringes in fear. She said she was told in class not to talk about it any more.”
“I fear for her well-being and for her safety. What if something like that happens again? That’s what I’m most afraid of.”
The mother said the school should install security cameras in the halls to monitor any potential conflicts that could inflict harm on the students.
Another mother, who declined to be identified for fear of compromising her son’s education, said: “My son’s room is just beside the room where the incident happened. You can’t help but think of the what ifs.”
She said the school should make it a policy to not let the kids be without adult supervision. If the teacher needs to go for a break, then the school nanny should be there. If both need to go for a break, there should be a substitute.
Two parents suggested the need to randomly check bags of students who show signs of aggression or victimisation. There should be constant student-teacher communication, especially for high school students, in order to prevent anything extreme from happening, they said.
One father, who has two kids enrolled in the school, said parents should also be accountable.
“Parents should also be receptive to their children’s needs, especially emotionally. They should regularly monitor their children’s friends and, if possible, casually check their children’s interaction in school, even their bags, just to be sure.”