The mother of teenager Jayden Lalchan who ended his life on October 3 following an alleged bullying incident at school, is not happy with how school officials handled their complaints.
The mother claimed she is still awaiting a call back from officials so the matter could be addressed.
Speaking with Guardian Media at their home at Broomage Road, Princes Town, yesterday, Jayden’s parents Fareeda and Rohan Lalchan lamented the lack of action by officials at St Stephen’s College over a prolonged period, to address the numerous reports of bullying made by the 15-year-old.
One day after the Form Four student was found dead as a result of self-harm, students and staff from the school participated in a peace march through the streets of Princes Town.
Revealing what the latest bullying confrontation against Jayden had entailed, Fareeda explained in the incident earlier that week, students were throwing words at her son and reportedly snatched his mask off his face.
This she said, had prompted Jayden to hit back at one of them, catching the main bully on the nose-bridge.
Fareeda claimed, “Since then, he started sending threats to my son and he (Jayden) was scared to even leave the school compound.”
She claimed a teacher had to escort Jayden home.
“He had this fear the bully and his friends would attack him once he left the school.”
Revealing she had visited the school after the incident and spoken to the Dean, Fareeda said she was told several students had to be interviewed first.
Fighting back tears, she said, “Up to this day, I never received that phone call.”
Asked if she knew why Jayden had been singled out and was being bullied, she said, “From what I heard, they go around and just choose kids randomly. They go around looking for the weakest one.”
Fareeda claimed at least one other boy was also being bullied by the group.
The mother described her late son as a quiet, soft-spoken boy.
“If you need help with something, he would help.
“He don’t mix and mingle too much with everyone.”
Fareeda said he was a top student and was up for an award in the area of Mathematics as he had top-scored three consecutive school terms.
She said Jayden had set his sights on a career in Information Technology.
Both Fareeda and Rohan said the school failed Jayden.
She claimed after speaking with the Dean, she was referred to the Principal who had been absent from the school and later claimed not to have known about the incident.
She claimed the cavalier attitude of school officials had led her to form the opinion that, “They brushed everything off.”
Using an expletive, Fareeda said, “It is not the first time he (Jayden) made a complaint.”
She said her son had submitted written reports about the bullying as he was scared to even come out of his classroom, or even come home on his own many days.
His father Rohan said, “He never wanted us to get involved in any type of problems because of the situation, so he decided to see if he could deal with this on his own.”
“This has been going on for years,” Rohan stated.
Jayden was a US citizen—and Rohan strongly believes his nationality, his accent, his voice, and the fact that he wears a mask—“They looked for everything to pick on him.”
Jayden’s parents said the verbal insults eventually turned physical and the latest incident would have brought Jayden to the brink.
St Stephen’s College is an Anglican-run school. Efforts to contact the Anglican Education Management Board and Bishop of the Anglican Church Claude Berkeley about the allegations at the school were unsuccessful.
If you or anyone you know has been battling thoughts of self-harm please contact Lifeline at 800-5588; Childline 800-4321 or the 24-Hour Suicide Prevention Hotline 800– COPE (2673).
