Student with a disability suffered burns at the hands of a schoolmate

He held the flame of a lighter close to the arms of a schoolmate with a disability, causing him to suffer burns. He then reportedly justified his actions by saying that he could not stand people like him. The attack, which took place last Thursday, occurred at the Arturo Prever Hotel Management School in Pinerolo, near Turin, where a 15-year-old, who is about to turn 16, attacked a 19-year-old student in the changing rooms after a cookery workshop. It all happened in a matter of moments, in the presence of other students.

The victim was helped by some of the school’s caretakers who heard his cries of pain. The 19-year-old was taken to hospital and was given a prognosis of five days. The 15-year-old reportedly later explained to the headteacher that he had done it because he cannot stand “people with disabilities”.

The victim’s mother immediately filed a complaint with the Carabinieri in Pinerolo, who are investigating the matter as a case of bodily harm. The case has also been referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Minors. Meanwhile, the school has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the pupil. An extraordinary class council meeting had been called the day after the incident, but the meeting was postponed because the pupil turned up without his parents. The council will now have to decide on a suspension of more than 15 days.

“I am deeply disheartened. These are incidents that should never happen anywhere, but particularly not in an institution that has made inclusion its all-encompassing mission – so much so that we have 200 pupils enrolled and attending, and we manage to help them all achieve academic success,” emphasised headteacher Roberta Martino. The Carabinieri are also investigating another incident that took place at Prever. During the night between Friday and Saturday, someone set off several fire extinguishers in the corridors, leaving the premises in such a state that the school had to be temporarily closed. At present, no evidence has emerged linking the two incidents.

The President of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, and the Regional Councillor for Education, Daniela Cameroni, have commented on the incident. “What happened at the Prever Institute in Pinerolo is an extremely serious incident, which we strongly condemn. We express our full solidarity with the student who was the victim of this hateful and despicable act and with his family. Violence and oppression have no place in our schools, especially when they target someone in a vulnerable position,” stated Cirio and Cameroni.