New Taipei middle school student stabbed by schoolmate dies

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) A junior high school student in New Taipei who was stabbed several times with a switchblade by a schoolmate on Monday died after efforts to resuscitate him failed late Tuesday, according to the local education department.

A ninth-grade male student reportedly stabbed the victim in the neck and chest after a female classmate complained to him about the way the other student had spoken to her.

The incident started during noon break Monday when the female student went to an adjacent classroom to chat with a friend but ended up arguing with a male student who asked her to leave.

The girl reportedly left in anger and asked the male classmate to confront the other student.

After they returned to the neighboring classroom, the two male students started to argue and when that turned physical the girl's classmate pulled out a switchblade knife and stabbed the other student in the neck and chest several times, leaving him with no vital signs.

The injured student was rushed to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, where his heartbeat was initially restored following emergency treatment but surgery with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to treat his injuries failed and the student died Tuesday night, the city education department confirmed Wednesday.

After hearing the case, a juvenile court ruled Tuesday that the male assailant should be placed in custody and the female student accused of instigating the confrontation be released into the custody of a legal guardian.

Commenting on the matter, a national education action alliance issued a statement Wednesday that the incident highlights a broader failure to provide effective guidance for at-risk students, referring to those who whose family background makes them more likely to fail or drop out of school.

At-risk students are often from dysfunctional families, have difficulty adapting to a school environment and in some cases pose a threat to school safety, the alliance said, adding that the suspected perpetrator in the New Taipei case is a typical at-risk student.

The alliance urged the government to provide alternative education programs specifically tailored to meet the needs of at-risk students.

In addition, the National Federation of Education Unions issued a statement, noting that currently there are no rules and regulations in place that allow schools to deal with matters related to students carrying dangerous and banned items on campus, for example they are not permitted to search students and their bags or individually question them.

In response, the Ministry of Education issued a statement Wednesday expressing regret over the incident and promised to review the country's alternative education system to address the educational needs of students when those needs cannot be met in regular schools.

New Taipei's education department said it will work with the local civil affairs department and the school to provide necessary support for the parents of such students and dispatch counselors and social workers to provide help to students who are having emotional difficulty dealing with the incident.

Also Wednesday, a forensic medical examination was performed as part of an ongoing investigation, New Taipei District Prosecutors Office said but declined to confirm the wounds the victim suffered.

According to media reports, the victim was stabbed 10 times, including six times in his common carotid artery and left chest and four in the lower right side of his back, near the kidneys.

Update

Dec. 28: Hou backs review of juvenile justice law after student's stabbing death