Teen attacked in school yard, classmates record the incident
A serious incident happened at a gymnasium in the northern region of the country, where a female student was assaulted by two of her classmates in the schoolyard. Instead of alerting teachers, other students filmed the incident. Psychologists caution that such situations can have a significant impact on teenagers and should be handled with care by adults.
The conflict erupted during a break between classes, and violent scenes were recorded and shared on social media. The school director, Silvia Vatamanu, stated that necessary measures were taken, but only the following day.
“The next morning, after inviting the parents, the school committee convened to prepare a report. This report was then sent to the multidisciplinary committee within the local public administration. We took all necessary actions regarding the school’s administration,” said Vatamanu, the director of the gymnasium.
The students involved in the conflict, along with their parents, will meet with psychologists, according to Elena Prodan, the interim head of the Education Directorate in the district where the incident occurred.
“We can't speak of punishment, but there will be serious discussions with them, and law enforcement agencies will also be involved. During these meetings, parents will converse with teachers who will guide them on how to communicate with their children at home,” Prodan noted.
Psychotherapists emphasize that violent incidents among teenagers must be handled with care.
“When we reach this point, we need to address the issues facing at-risk teenagers. More time should be dedicated to team-building activities that allow students to get to know each other and improve group cohesion. Often, these violent outbreaks stem from an 'us versus them' mentality,” explained psychotherapist Mihai Bologan.
Bullying, defined as intentional and repeated intimidation or aggression, is becoming increasingly common. Last year, 1,200 cases were reported in the Republic of Moldova, according to the Ministry of Education. The term "bullying" was incorporated into national legislation in 2022, and starting in 2023, school principals are required to report all instances of bullying.
