The incident, which occurred last weekend, stemmed from an emotional conflict, according to Truong Thi Bich Thanh, principal of Tran Quang Dieu Secondary School in Tan An ward, who spoke on 19/5.

The 6th-grade student received a message from a schoolmate, inviting her to the Tan An industrial park for a "talk." Upon arriving with a friend, she found about 10 individuals, both male and female, waiting for her.

Subsequently, two female students assaulted her, forcing her to kneel and clean their feet. The entire event was videoed and later posted on social media. The student sustained minor scratches and was left frightened by the ordeal.

The school reported that it has visited and offered support to the victim. Additionally, the school, in collaboration with parents and police, issued a reminder to the students involved, emphasizing that fighting, videoing, and distributing content on social media constitutes a violation of the law.

Student fights have occurred frequently recently, sparking debate over disciplinary regulations. The Ministry of Education and Training's current policy stipulates that the most severe disciplinary action for offending secondary and high school students is writing a self-criticism report.

When this regulation took effect in 9/2025, a Ministry representative explained that the approach shifted from "punishment" to "education" and "support" for students who violate rules, aiding them in correcting mistakes. This method aims for student progress, viewing disciplinary measures as an integral part of the educational process rather than solely punitive.

Conversely, suspension or expulsion is an administrative decision that carries the risk of pushing students towards criminal behavior due to a lack of educational guidance and care from the school and family.

Nguyen Ha