Curbing bullying in schools is a shared responsibility

The dust surrounding a mother's post claiming her son was bullied at Beijing's prestigious Zhongguancun No 2 Primary School has yet to settle.

In her account, the mother described how her 10-year-old son was bullied by two of his classmates, and said he has been absent from school suffering from anxiety and depression.

The school has not disputed her story and has issued an apology for the hurt done to the boy. Yet it has refused to label the incident bullying and mete out any punishments as demanded by the mother. The school would act as a mediator rather than a punisher, its principal reportedly said.