Schoolboy with kidney ailment beaten up by 8 older pupils

In yet another incident of violence in schools, a grade five boy was allegedly beaten by eight pupils on the campus of Al Hesn Private School in Al Muhaisnah, Dubai. The nine-year-old Emirati boy, Yousuf Yaqoub Abdul Rahman, was allegedly assaulted by students from higher classes who are also Emiratis, when one of them mistook Yousuf as the one who allegedly insulted his sister. The incident took place on Tuesday and the victim's father, Yaqoub Abdul Rahman, has filed a complaint at Al Ghusais police station. Yousuf, who is a kidney patient, has bruises and scars on his body and one of his ears is damaged. A medical report issued by Rashid Hospital's Emergency Department has confirmed the injury was due to the alleged assault. According to Abdul Rahman, the school's administration failed to control the situation quickly and didn't even bother to inform him about the incident. "I got a call from my wife saying that my boy was being beaten at the school. She was informed by Yousuf's cousin who also goes to the same school. I was going insane when I heard the news and I don't know how I drove to school as horrible thoughts were coming to my mind," Abdul Rahman told Gulf News. When Abdul Rahman reached the school, he found Yousuf bruised, his clothes completely torn and he was visibly shaken. "They [the school administration] didn't even take him to the clinic or give him first aid. After the incident Yousuf was sent back to class as if nothing happened. When I saw my boy I couldn't believe my eyes, he was in such bad shape," said Abdul Rahman. Although the school's principal Aisha Ali admitted there were disciplinary issues in the school, she preferred to interrogate the boys herself first before taking any steps. "I interrogated the boys who were involved in the fight and there was some misunderstanding that led to the fight. There have been issues with one of the boys involved. He is going through turmoil because his family is split, but nothing justifies such behaviour and we are trying to tackle it," said Ali. Ali, who joined the school in November last year, said the school had been having disciplinary issues for some time because a lot of students who were expelled from other schools had been admitted. Since the incident Yousuf hasn't eaten much and has been very disturbed. He is also refusing to go to school. "He has a psychological impact now and he is scared of going to school as he fears he will be beaten again. This is very damaging to a child's growth and the scar will remain in his mind for the rest of his life. Authorities should make sure schools are free from such incidents otherwise there is no way children will learn," added Abdul Rahman. When contacted, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said in a statement it had yet to receive an official complaint from the parents. "Investigations will begin once a complaint is lodged." Several incidents of violence and abuse in schools have come to light over the past few weeks. Gulf News reported last week that a grade one boy was allegedly flogged repeatedly by a schoolteacher. She was later suspended by the KHDA until investigations are complete. In another incident an Emirati mother claimed that her seven-year-old son was suffering brain damage after a teacher allegedly banged his head against a wall. The KHDA is currently investigating the case. But the case that shocked the nation was that of 11-year-old Loujain Hussain, who was in a coma for two weeks after being allegedly brutally assaulted by four boys in her school in Abu Dhabi last month.