Bullying Case at Tenerife School Referred to Public Prosecutor Following Alleged Abuse of Autistic Student

The management of school bullying is under scrutiny again following a report by El Día regarding a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at IES El Médano in Granadilla de Abona. The case, which has drawn the attention of the Educational Inspectorate and the ANAR Foundation, highlights a growing gap between how schools handle administrative protocols and the reality of persistent bullying.

While the Canary Islands Ministry of Education described the events of April 10 as an "isolated incident," the student's family argues this was the breaking point of two years of harassment. According to the student’s mother, Patricia Carballo, her son was cornered by eight classmates who threw objects at him and mimicked bee sounds to trigger his specific phobia. She reports that this ongoing humiliation has left her son suffering from severe anxiety, insomnia, and self-harm.

The family has criticized the school’s initial response. Carballo had to formally request the activation of the anti-bullying protocol nearly two weeks after the assault, as the school had not initially deemed it necessary. Following her intervention, the school expelled five of the eight students involved. The Ministry has since proposed a plan to stagger school schedules to keep the students apart.

Adrián Delgado, from the Territorial Directorate of Education in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, admitted that these events go beyond typical school conflicts. He noted that early detection remains a major challenge, as much of this behavior occurs outside of direct teacher supervision. While he mentioned that long-term intervention strategies are in place, he did not provide specific details on how they would be implemented.

The situation has now escalated beyond the school system. After reviewing the case, the ANAR Foundation identified potential criminal elements and referred the matter to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Meanwhile, the student’s education remains in jeopardy; with only six weeks left in the school year, he is attending classes only intermittently. His family maintains that until his safety can be guaranteed, he cannot return to school, raising concerns that the psychological trauma could lead to long-term academic failure.