The Junta de Andalucia says there is currently no evidence that a 14-year-old student who died by suicide in Benalmadena was a victim of bullying.
Angela, a student at IES Benalmadena, was found dead in the basement of a home in Arroyo del Miel on February 15.
The case has been under investigation to determine whether bullying or other factors may have contributed.
Speaking during an event in Malaga titled Female Vocations and STEM Vocational Training: Andalusian Women for the Industry to Come, the regional education minister Maria del Carmen Castillo said the information gathered so far does not indicate bullying.
‘The experts who have analysed the case tell us there is no situation that would make us think there was school bullying,’ she said when asked by reporters.
According to the regional Department of Educational Development and Vocational Training, checks of the teenager’s social media accounts and electronic devices have not revealed signs of harassment that might have gone unnoticed by the school.
Officials also said the student was known at the school as ‘a good pupil and the class representative’.
Castillo expressed condolences on behalf of the Andalucian education system and said the authorities are supporting Angela’s family.
‘Losing a son or daughter is the worst thing that can happen to someone,’ she said, adding that the education community remains available to assist the family in any way needed.
After the student’s death, the regional government reviewed the procedures followed at IES Benalmadena to determine whether the standard protocols for bullying or self-harm risks had been triggered.
‘In this case they were not activated because we had no information indicating such a situation,’ Castillo explained.
She added that although the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown, current indications suggest it was not specifically linked to bullying.
Under Andalucia’s school protocols, incidents involving a student’s death or possible self-harm trigger an immediate review of the school’s actions and any available information related to bullying or risk indicators.
Education authorities say cooperation with families and early detection of student wellbeing issues remain key priorities within the regional school system.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
