Senior QVS students taken in while Education Minister visits the Tailevu boarding school

Police have taken in some senior QVS students for questioning after they assaulted a 16-year-old junior student on Sunday.

Chief of Intelligence and Investigations ACP Biu Matavou has not revealed the number of suspects taken in however he confirms that some of the students were taken in for questioning by Korovou Police earlier today.

He says charges will be laid after the investigations.

Due to the increasing number of physical assaults on students at the boarding school, Education Minister Doctor Mahendra Reddy went to speak to the QVS students earlier this afternoon.

Doctor Reddy reminded the students that they have all the support they need when they want it.

He told the students that their failure and success is the reflection of their family and where they come from.

He adds that every child is equal as the government has provided the best infrastructure to QVS and other government schools.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education Timoci Bure also told the students that they are sent to school for a purpose.

Bure told the students that this should be the last time that an incident like this happens to any student.

Bure has asked the seniors of the school to look after the juniors as they are like their sons and brothers away from home.

The mother of the Year 10 student confirmed to Fijivillage that she received a call from the QVS nurse at 3pm Monday that her son was badly injured.

He was then dropped off at their home on Monday and came out of the car bent over as he could not walk straight due to the severe beating by some senior students.

The mother says she had just dropped off her son at the school at 5pm Sunday and she could not believe that he was badly injured within a few hours.

She says her son confirms that he was attacked by about six senior students in the middle of the night.

One of the students covered the 16-year-old student’s face with a blanket while the others beat him up with sticks and pipes.

As they left the dorm, they said to the boy that this happens when he does not look for money for them.

The mother reveals that there is an investigation already underway at the school after a junior student complained about senior students demanding for money by a certain deadline.

The last demand was made last week when some senior students told some junior students to look for $80.

It is alleged that this culture has been in place for many years and the mother is calling on authorities to investigate and take decisive action.         

She is calling on authorities to ensure that the bullies are out of the school and that they also face charges for their wrongdoing.