Madaba students’ attack on school property stirs outrage

AMMAN — Video taped scenes of group violence happening in a public high school for males in Madaba Governorate have generated anger and harsh criticism among citizens, who called for “immediate and serious” actions.

Published on several social media platforms, the video, which was reportedly recorded by students, captured schoolboys destroying the classrooms’ facilities and attacking the new school principal’s car.

Despite several attempts by The Jordan Times, the Education Ministry was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, head of the Madaba Education Directorate Mohammad Msallam told Sarayanews.com that all students engaged in the riots "will be held accountable for their acts", adding that he and the governor of Madaba, visited the school on Monday to inspect the incident.  

Msallam noted that the ministry has already formed an investigation committee for the case, stressing his "strongest rejection" of the violent acts committed in the video, according to the website.

“What has been documented highlights the fact that the education system is in a gradual decline in light of the government's policy which only seeks to cut the costs even if this was at the expense of the educational process,” said Fakher Daas, coordinator of the National Campaign for Defending Students' Rights (Thabahtoona).

“Teachers should be trained and qualified to redeem their previous prestige and authority on students,” Daas said, claiming that what was seen in the video is "not an exceptional or odd scene", but "this time it was documented".  

Marwan Barqawi, an employee at the Education Ministry, said that these acts reflect the absence of good parenting and child raising strategies.

“This is the result when parents only worry about offering the financial needs to their children, but neglect the importance of instilling morals and values,” Barqawi wrote.

Social media users called for enforcing strict laws in schools and punishments against the perpetrators in order to prevent the recurrence of such “scandalous behaviours”.