Three Primary 3 boys from Sengkang Green Primary School were suspended after bullying a female classmate, with one caned for sending violent death threats to her mother.

The girl was so distressed by the incidents that she temporarily stopped attending school, and has since returned under a safety plan.

The case has sparked public debate about how bullying escalates, how schools respond, and the role of parents in ensuring children’s safety.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong spoke to Jean Tan, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Psychology Associates, to find out more about the psychological factors behind such extreme bullying, why children might engage in hurtful behaviour at a young age, and what steps schools and parents can take to prevent and address these incidents effectively.