Abu Dhabi: A 12th grade pupil of an Abu Dhabi school said he has stopped attending classes after continuous mental and physical torture by a group of bullies.
Sam George Kuruvila, 17, an Indian, told Gulf News once he was held by the neck and dragged from the classroom to be beaten up by other pupils.
His father said the boy has been traumatised for the past eight months after joining Sunrise English Private School in 11th grade and needed psychiatric treatment. "He was afraid to disclose the harassment he faced in the school." The boy has not attended school since September 3.
Disciplinary action
Sam said: "I did not disclose the torture because my class teacher warned that I will also be suspended if an incident was reported to the principal. She said so when I complained in the beginning of May against five boys who dragged me from the classroom holding my neck and slammed my head against the wall."
He alleged that teachers turned down his request to make a call to his mother. "Two of [the boys] tortured me the same way after two weeks."
He said the bullies used to take away his lunch so he started to eat from school canteen. "But ... they followed me there too and beat me up black and blue."
His father said he complained to the principal and later in writing mentioning the names of nine bullies as the principal told him to but no action was taken.
Doctor's certificate demanded
Principal C. Impanathan told Gulf News that it was difficult to take action against nine pupils on a complaint. "I came to know the complaints two weeks ago only when the parent approached me." About the alleged warning by the class teacher to take action against both complainant and accused, the principal said that the teacher explained to him that she did not use the word "suspension" but warned strong action against creating problems in school. He said he would consider taking further action, including suspension or dismissal of nine accused pupils, if the parent produces a certificate from the doctor mentioning the names of the accused.
Your comments
Strong action should be taken against the pupils who create problems and harass other children in the school or outside and also against the teacher who took the matter lightly.
Rijju
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 18, 2007, 09:01
The teacher and the children should be thrown out of the school. These children should not be given admission anywhere and the teacher should also not be allowed to teach anywhere so that other children don?t suffer.
Priya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 18, 2007, 08:59
Bullies are common in all schools and the fact is that whoever gets bullied don?t know how to deal or overcome them. Of course punishment will let them abstain from such acts, but to be more practical, good counseling sessions could help.
Sam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 18, 2007, 08:52
Such students (bullies) should be thrown out of schools.
Binoj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 18, 2007, 08:13
The principal says that he will take action against the bullies only after the parent produces a certificate from a doctor "mentioning" the names of the accused. A doctor can certify an injury but how is he supposed to certify "who" caused it. What a ridiculous excuse by the school principal to not take any action against the bullies.
Nitin
Roorkee,India
Posted: October 18, 2007, 07:55
It is highly shocking to know that in this time and age, something like this could happen in a UAE educational institution. Are we living in dark ages, caves or jungles, where there is no decency or rule of law?
I am deeply astonished at the "carefree" attitude of the school Principal and the class teacher too. The UAE ministry of education must investigate this alarming case and punish those who have turned an institution of learning into a "Bully Land."
Aamir
St. Peters, Missouri - USA,USA
Posted: October 18, 2007, 05:01
