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Family of special needs teen sues private school for negligence

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Father claims his son was attacked by another student and was then compared to an animal by a representative from the school.

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Free Malaysia Today
The family of a special needs student say he was initially enthusiastic about attending the international private school but his behaviour deteriorated after 10 days. (Wiki pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:
A 14-year-old Syrian special needs teenager and his father have filed a civil suit against an international private school in Mont Kiara here for negligence over his alleged mistreatment at the hands of one of the students at the school.

The boy, who was diagnosed with Cohen syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), gastrointestinal issues and asthma, and his 60-year-old father filed the writ of summons against the school owner at the sessions court here, last year.

According to the statement of claim, the family claimed that the special needs school committed negligence during the boy’s enrolment from Oct 3 to Nov 7, 2021, whereby they claimed that during the first week of enrolment, the boy was excited to attend the school and his behaviour was positive at home, with his class size numbering around two or three children.

The plaintiffs claimed that it was around 10 days into enrolment that the teen’s behaviour deteriorated.

They said they noticed skin-peeling on his fingers and from the soles of his feet, that the school was not feeding him adequately, the boy was coming home with dirty feet, and he was unusually difficult and stubborn.

They also claimed that the boy began shrieking and shouting in imitation of other children at the school, and the size of his class grew to six or seven students.

The plaintiffs also alleged that the teen was struck by a classmate around 1.40pm on Nov 8, 2021, causing bruising but a school representative dismissed the allegation. They said that instead, the school claimed the wound was self-inflicted, and that the boy had struck another classmate and then banged his head against the classroom wall.

The father also alleged that the representative described the teen in an insulting and degrading manner, akin to an “animal”.

Following which, the boy was withdrawn from the school and a police report was made against the school at the Sentul district police headquarters (IPD) on Nov 16, 2021.

The family is seeking general, special, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as a declaration that the special needs school had breached its duty of care.

The suit is set for full trial before sessions court judge Halilah Suboh tomorrow.

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