A 17-year-old girl in Singapore has been ordered to undergo reformative training after attacking two secondary school staff members with a penknife following the confiscation of her mobile phone. The case, which involved injuries to both staff members and self-harm by the teenager, has drawn attention to youth rehabilitation and school discipline measures.
The teenager, whose identity cannot be disclosed under Singapore’s Children and Young Persons Act, was sentenced on May 14 to at least six months of reformative training. The rehabilitative sentence is typically reserved for younger offenders and focuses on behavioural correction, counselling, education, and structured discipline rather than conventional imprisonment, The Straits Times reported.
According to court proceedings, the incident took place on Apr. 28, 2025, after the student arrived late to school at around 7.45am. As part of disciplinary action, the school’s operations manager confiscated her mobile phone. The situation later escalated when the teenager attempted to retrieve the device and was refused.
The girl reportedly used a penknife to injure herself before turning the weapon on the operations manager, slashing the victim’s left arm during the confrontation.
DISCIPLINE MASTER ALSO INJURED DURING INCIDENT
Following the initial attack, the operations manager informed the school’s discipline master about the situation. The discipline master then attempted to calm the teenager and persuade her to surrender the penknife peacefully.
However, during the encounter, the discipline master was also slashed on the left arm, reportedly sustaining a deep cut. The teenager was eventually disarmed, though she later returned home after learning that the police had been contacted.
Authorities subsequently arrested her at her residence on the same day. Both injured staff members were later conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for medical treatment.
The teenager later pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. Another similar charge was taken into consideration during sentencing.
REFORMATIVE TRAINING FOCUSES ON REHABILITATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS
Under Singapore’s justice system, reformative training is designed for young offenders assessed to have rehabilitation potential. The programme, administered by the Singapore Prison Service, combines strict discipline with rehabilitation-focused interventions.
These programmes may include counselling, psychology-based correctional treatment, educational support, employability training, physical drills, and family intervention programmes aimed at reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
Court records indicated that the teenager’s bail was set at S$10,000 and she is expected to begin serving her reformative training sentence on Jun. 15.
The incident has also sparked broader discussions online regarding student mental health, emotional regulation, and disciplinary practices in schools. While authorities have not publicly disclosed further details surrounding the teenager’s background, the case highlights the challenges schools sometimes face in balancing discipline, safety, and student welfare.
Education institutions in Singapore maintain strict policies regarding weapons and violence on school grounds, with authorities treating such offences seriously due to the potential risk posed to staff and students.