A Form Four female student of Colégio Mateus Ricci on Travessa de São Paulo sustained injuries after being stabbed by her former male classmate with a “sharp object” on campus at about 11:34 a.m. yesterday, according to separate statements by the Public Security Police (PSP), Fire Services Bureau (CB) and the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ).
The statements identified the suspect as a boy who had previously transferred to another school.
The statements noted that the 16-year-old victim remained conscious when she was admitted to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre accompanied by a school nurse.
PSP spokesman Leong Chi Seng said during a regular press conference yesterday that the suspect had had an argument with the victim, but that the quarrel was not related to any relationship problems.
The police were still investigating the cause of the stabbing at the time the press conference was held yesterday afternoon, according to Leong, who added that the victim suffered minor injuries from the stabbing and was undergoing treatment at the public hospital.
The DSEDJ statement noted that upon having been notified by the school about the incident, DSEDJ Director Kong Chi Meng, accompanied by several of his senior officials, held an emergency meeting on the school campus.
The DSEDJ statement quoted the school as saying that the suspect attacked the victim when returning to the campus yesterday morning to retrieve his personal belongings, adding that the teacher at the site immediately activated the emergency mechanism to protect other students by removing them from the scene and comfort the “emotional male student”, who was then apprehended and kept under control by other teachers of the school until they handed him over to the police for investigation.
The bureau activated its crisis management mechanism through the emergency meeting with the school and provided immediate counselling support to students who witnessed the incident, the DSEDJ statement underlined.
In its statement, the bureau urged young students to immediately communicate with, or seek help from parents, teachers or other people they trust if they are emotionally distressed while, at the same time, parents should also always pay special attention to the emotional changes in their children in their growing-up stage and seek professional assistance, if necessary, so as to safeguard the physical and mental health of young students.
Kong told reporters yesterday afternoon on the campus that the male student is suffering from emotional problems and needs long-term assistance, adding that social workers have followed up on his case.
According to Kong, the suspect was transferred from another school to Colégio Mateus Ricci half an academic year ago, and recently transferred to another school.
Kong underlined that the bureau has a set of operational guidelines for people outside the school to enter the campus, such as the procedures for entering local schools and showing their identification, which, however, were not followed this time as the incident involved two school students.
Consequently, Kong said, the bureau held the emergency meeting with the aim of further strengthening school campus security.
The suspect’s surname was not revealed by the authorities. PSP spokesman Leong said that the suspect was under 18.
The age of criminal responsibility in Macau is 16.
Colégio Mateus Ricci is a secondary school run by the Society of Jesus (S.J.).
This photo taken yesterday shows Colégio Mateus Ricci on Travessa de São Paulo, where a female student was stabbed by a male ex-classmate in the morning. – Photo: MPDG
