Girl, 17, slashes 2 secondary school staff with penknife over confiscated phone, gets reformative training

A 17-year-old girl was ordered on May 14 to undergo at least six months of reformative training for slashing two secondary school staff members with a penknife and hurting herself when her phone was confiscated.

Her identity was not disclosed as those below 18 are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act, The Straits Times reported.

Reformative training

Reformative training is a rehabilitative sentencing option.

According to Singapore Prison Services, young offenders may undergo psychology-based correctional programmes, family and education programmes, employability skills training and personal development programmes, based on their rehabilitation needs.

They are also subjected to a strict regime that can include counselling sessions and foot drills.

Background

The 17-year-old arrived late at her secondary school at about 7:45am on Apr. 28, 2025.

The school’s operations manager confiscated her mobile phone as a disciplinary measure.

When she later asked for the phone back but was refused, she proceeded to cut her own arm before slashing the manager’s left arm with a penknife.

The manager informed the discipline master of the incident, who persuaded the girl to hand over the penknife.

However, the discipline master was also slashed on the left arm, leaving a deep cut.

The girl was eventually disarmed and went home after finding out that the police had been contacted.

She was arrested later at home on the same day.

Both the manager and discipline master were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for medical treatment.

Charges

The girl pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.

A second similar charge was taken into consideration during her sentencing.

On May 14, her bail was set at S$10,000.

She is expected to begin her sentence on Jun. 15.