Student expelled after classroom chair attack in central China, school’s explanation sparks public backlash
A violent classroom incident in Henan’s Gongyi city has triggered widespread outrage after a student was filmed striking a classmate’s head with a chair, while the school initially claimed the attack “did not hit” and was merely a “camera angle issue”.
- A student in Gongyi, Henan, was filmed striking a classmate’s head with a chair inside a classroom.
- The school’s initial explanation downplaying the incident sparked public anger online.
- The attacker has since been expelled, and local education authorities have launched an investigation.
CHINA: A video circulating online shows a serious act of violence inside a classroom at a private school in Gongyi city, Henan province.
The incident occurred on 13 January at Jingshi Du Fu Academy. Footage shows a male student seated at the back of the classroom picking up a chair, walking to the front, and forcefully striking another male student on the back of the head.
The victim’s head was seen slamming into the desk from the impact. After briefly forcing himself upright, the student appeared unable to sit steadily and kept his head lowered, while classmates moved in to check on him. The attacker then calmly returned to his seat.
School’s Initial Response Draws Criticism
Following the circulation of the video, school staff told local reporters that the injured student had undergone medical checks and was “completely fine” and had returned to school the next day.
School representatives claimed the incident looked serious only due to the camera angle, saying the chair “did not actually hit” the victim and that the attacker was merely trying to scare him.
They added that the student responsible had already been transferred or expelled, and urged the public not to further disturb the students involved, saying education should focus on guiding students back onto the right path.
A local police station also stated that, based on information from the school, the two sides had likely reached a settlement and that the victim was not seriously injured.
Online Backlash and Bullying Concerns
The school’s explanation sparked strong backlash online, with many netizens accusing the institution of “lying with eyes wide open” and attempting to downplay a serious case of school violence.
Many commenters described the incident as clear-cut school bullying and questioned whether expelling the attacker alone was sufficient accountability.
Some expressed concern that minimising such incidents could enable further violence and called for stricter disciplinary and legal measures.
Education Authorities Step In
Amid mounting public pressure, Gongyi’s education bureau confirmed it has intervened and launched an investigation into the incident and the school’s handling of the case.
The student who carried out the attack has since been expelled, while investigations into potential follow-up actions remain ongoing.
