13-year-old slightly injured in sharp-object attack at Gozo school

A 13-year-old student was slightly injured after being attacked by another pupil with a “sharp object” at a secondary school in Gozo on Thursday, prompting a police investigation.

In a brief statement, the Education Ministry confirmed the incident and said school authorities intervened immediately to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of students.

The ministry reiterated that the health and safety of children and young people in schools “has always been, remains, and will continue to be an absolute priority”.

The incident comes amid heightened concern over violence in schools. In December, the ministry appointed a seven-member Advisory Board, chaired by director general Ritienne Borg Saliba, to provide strategic and operational recommendations on a new behaviour management framework.

The board was set up after a series of serious incidents, including the case of a 14-year-old boy who was charged with stabbing a fellow student in the schoolyard of St Clare College in Pembroke. Days later, a 14-year-old girl was hospitalised after suffering a broken nose during a fight at St Nicholas College in Dingli.

While Thursday’s incident in Gozo did not result in serious injuries, it is likely to further fuel calls for stronger preventive measures and more effective behaviour management in schools.