The discovery of secondary school students suffering from serious domestic violence at home is posing an urgent problem in the emergency handling process in schools. Intervention measures must not only stop at an ethical perspective, but must be a strict legal and governance process to protect the safety of children’s lives and clearly define the responsibilities of stakeholders.
1. Summary of the actual situation (The Case)
During PE class, the homeroom teacher of grade 6 of Secondary School X discovered that M. (12 years old) showed signs of pain and hesitation when exercising. Conducting an examination and questioning, the teacher was shocked to find that there were many bruises on her back, arms and legs, and the lines of new and old whips overlapped.
After being encouraged, M. cried and was afraid to reveal that due to his declining academic performance and frequent video games, he was brutally beaten at home by his biological father with an electric wire many times. The latest bruise was caused by the whipping the night before. Realizing the serious nature of the incident, the homeroom teacher immediately reported to the school management to find an emergency solution.
Let’s analyze a real situation below with MSc. Nguyen Huu Long to find a complete solution both logically and emotionally.
2. Legal perspective – “Solid shield”
From a legal point of view, the handling of child abuse by fathers and the responsibility of the school to intervene are clearly stipulated in the Vietnamese legal system, requiring strict compliance with the authority and reporting process.
Regulations on the obligation to receive, collect and transfer information on acts of domestic violence
According to Clause 1, Article 51 of the Law on Children 2016 (amended and supplemented in 2025), agencies, organizations, educational institutions and individuals are responsible for immediately notifying the place receiving information about acts of violence against children or children at risk of being abused. Schools, as educational institutions that directly manage students, have the supreme legal obligation to protect learners and are the first “link” to activate the notification process, coordinate with competent agencies (such as the 111 Call Center, local police) to protect the legitimate rights and interests of children.
Principles on prohibited acts in domestic violence prevention and control and criminal sanctions
According to Point a) Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2022:
“Article 3. Acts of domestic violence
Acts of domestic violence include:
a) Torture, ill-treatment, beating, threatening or other intentional acts infringing upon health or life;”
Criminal sanctions for handling acts: According to Point a) Clause 2, Article 185 of the Criminal Code 2015 (amended and supplemented in 2025):
“Article 185. The crime of abusing or torturing grandparents, parents, spouses, children, grandchildren or persons who have meritorious services to their upbringing
………
Committing the crime in one of the following cases, the offenders shall be sentenced to between 02 and 05 years of imprisonment:
a) For persons under 16 years of age, women who know that they are pregnant, elderly and infirm persons;”
Apply to the situation
In this case, the father’s behavior seriously violated the prohibition of the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence and showed signs of a criminal offense under the Criminal Code when the subject of abuse was a 6th grade child (under 16 years old) and was repetitive (new and old bruises piled up). For schools and homeroom teachers, when the incident is discovered, if they do not immediately implement the notification process and take emergency protection measures under the Children’s Law, the school not only violates its educational responsibility but also shows signs of violating its legal obligations on violence prevention. child abuse.
Legal conclusion: The act of violence against the father’s biological child is a serious violation of the law and needs to be disciplined or examined for criminal liability in accordance with regulations. At the same time, schools must immediately implement emergency procedures in coordination with the 111 Call Center and the Commune/Ward Police to isolate children from the risk of violence, ensure proper legal procedures and protect children’s rights.
3. Perspective of Psychology – Education – Governance – “The Key to Humanity”
Psychological & Educational Aspects (Ethics of Conduct)
Panic fear of an abused child: A 12-year-old child who is abused by his own father with an electric wire will fall into a state of extreme psychological crisis, deeply hurt his self-esteem and always live in panic fear. Physical wounds can heal, but psychological cracks will make you withdraw, fear the world around you and directly affect your personality development and academic performance.
Social responsibility and professional ethics of teachers: Teachers must not only teach literacy but also protect students. In this situation, the sensitivity, empathy and timely questioning of the homeroom teacher show noble professional ethics. Teachers need to act as the safest fulcrum, listening, and keeping initial information confidential to avoid putting students in a position of stigma or being retaliated against by their fathers due to “bus tips”.
In terms of risk management
Emergency process of notifying the 111 Call Center and the commune police to intervene for protection: The management lesson here is to develop a clear school risk response scenario, without delay. The school needs to immediately activate the emergency process: Safely isolate students at the medical room/psychological counseling room, immediately contact the National Child Protection Call Center 111 and the Commune/Ward Police where they reside to make a record and emergency intervention to protect the physical safety of M. Delay in reporting a violent incident Serious families will push a great risk towards the school if students continue to be subjected to life-threatening violence when they return home.
4. Comprehensive Expert Solution
On the basis of analyzing the case, Expert Nguyen Huu Long proposed 3 steps in the group of emergency and sustainable treatment process solutions:
Step 1 – Activate emergency protection and set up a point of contact: The homeroom teacher coordinates with the School Board to take students to the medical room to check and save the wound with medical images. Immediately call the 111 Call Center and the Commune/Ward Police to send officers to coordinate to protect the child, ensuring that the child is not taken home by the father when there are no safety measures.
Step 2 – School psychotherapy and pressure relief for students: The School Psychology Advisory Board assigns an expert to accompany 1-1 to ease M’s fear of panic. share information to reduce psychological pressure for children, help them stabilize their studies soon.
Step 3 – Interdisciplinary coordination and standardization of the response capacity of the team: The school coordinates with the union government, the local Child Protection Care Committee to find a temporary guardian who is safe for the child (such as a mother, grandparent or shelter). At the same time, training was organized for all teachers on the process of early identification of signs of violence and skills to handle emergency situations in accordance with the law.
The message: “Protecting children from domestic violence is not just a moral responsibility, but an urgent legal obligation. The educational environment must be the safest stronghold for children.”
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE:
This article is based on the professional consultation and advice of MSc. Nguyen Huu Long – Expert in Leadership, Legal, Psychology & Education. With a multi-disciplinary integrated mindset, we not only provide a solid legal shield but also provide comprehensive risk management and psychological empathy solutions for the sustainable development of the community.
If you or your organization are facing similar problems with schools, child violence or other legal issues, please contact us immediately via hotline: 0898.627.762 or leave a question at the tuvanphapluattamlygiaoduc.vn website system for timely support.