Law. Photo: VCG

Authorities in Cangwu county in Wuzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, announced on Tuesday that disciplinary measures and corrective actions have been taken following a widely circulated video showing a case of student bullying at Shiqiao Middle School.

According to a statement released by the county's joint investigation team on Tuesday, the incident first came to light on Friday evening, when footage of the bullying spread online and drew widespread public concern. The investigation found that on Wednesday and Thursday, several eighth-grade girls at Shiqiao Middle School physically and verbally assaulted a female classmate in the school dormitory after a dispute over trivial matters.

The Cangwu County Education Bureau has suspended the school's principal surnamed Pan, two vice principals surnamed Liang and surnamed Che, and the victim's homeroom teacher surnamed Wei for alleged dereliction of duty. The bureau has dispatched new staff to the school to strengthen management.

In accordance with China's Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, nine students identified as perpetrators have been sent to a designated correctional school for rehabilitative education. Meanwhile, the parents of the students involved will undergo legal education sessions.

Several videos circulating online about this school bullying incident in recent days have drawn widespread public attention. 

According to online video footages, a female student is seen kneeling on the ground while another girl pours water over her head. One student appears to sit on top of her, while three others place their feet on her head and pose with "V" hand gestures. In another clip, a girl is shown pulling the victim's hair and slapping her across the face.

The disturbing videos have sparked strong reactions from netizens, many calling for accountability from the perpetrators and the school. Hashtags related to the incident then quickly began trending on Chinese social media platforms.

Local authorities said on Tuesday that the victim was promptly escorted to hospital by teachers for medical examination and follow-up checks. She is now recuperating at home under medical advice and is receiving counseling from a professional psychologist.

Local police have formally opened a case and pledged to handle the matter in line with legal and regulatory procedures.

Local authorities emphasized that the county maintains a "zero-tolerance" policy toward school bullying, vowing to investigate every incident thoroughly, punish offenders strictly, and never show leniency.

Global Times