For zero tolerance from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth (MSPAN) to the phenomenon of school bullying, the Senior Secondary Education Officer of Paphos, Giorgos Koutsidis, tells the Cyprus News Agency that the most important element is not punishment but the development of a school culture against violence.
In a statement to the Cyprus News Agency, Koutsidis said that there have been incidents of violence this year in schools in the Paphos district but noted that these were manageable through the support mechanisms of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In response to a question, he notes that violence in schools is a long-standing, global, social phenomenon with implications at many levels, both in the learning process and in the mental health of students.
It causes insecurity and fear and leads, he says, "to a violation of the principle of 'safe schools' and the right of students to be educated in a safe, non-threatening environment".
He also points out that it is likely to manifest itself in various forms, such as school bullying which is a form of abuse.
According to the Paphos Senior Secondary Education Officer, the Ministry of Education calls on schools to demonstrate and cultivate the principle of zero tolerance towards this phenomenon.
As he states, "the most important element of zero tolerance is not the use of punishment, but the development of a school culture against violence".
Investigating, recording and managing such incidents indicates the determination and sensitivity of teachers to reduce bullying, he adds.
This policy, he explains, is part of the Health Education and Delinquency Prevention Action Plan and is in line with the state's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Building a positive climate at school
Koutsidis says that the school sets out a clear policy for the prevention and management of bullying, which is implemented by the entire educational community, including children.
This policy is communicated to all stakeholders inside and outside the school and involves teachers as well as students and parents, he says.
"An important aspect is building a positive climate in the school," she notes, adding that the key pillars that underpin its existence are school equity, teacher collaboration, active involvement of students in school life, an attractive school, collaboration with parents and collaboration with other stakeholders.
The school, he adds, involves students in the prevention and management of bullying by training them appropriately to develop skills such as empathy, acceptance of diversity, managing emotions, communication skills, developing assertive behaviour, improving self-image, recognising bullying, etc.In addition, it continues, training, information and awareness-raising of parents/guardians about the phenomenon is necessary. This information can include advice developed by the Educational Psychology Service, in cooperation with the Mental Health Services.
It also states that parents/guardians can attend seminars of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, the Educational Psychology Service and the Observatory on Violence in Schools, for schools participating in the PA's structured programmes.Also, regular communication and cooperation between parents/guardians and the school is considered necessary.
According to Mr. Koutsidis, in the context of dealing with incidents of school bullying, various protocols have been developed for the handling of incidents. For example, he explains, in case the incidents are deemed to be manageable through actions within the school unit, teachers organise meetings with the students involved in the incidents.
Informing parents/guardians of children involved in bullying incidents in separate meetings is essential, he says, noting that the way of communication plays an important role in the management of incidents.
He adds that thanks to communication with parents/guardians, it is possible to prevent them from taking the initiative to solve the problem in their own way.
Child and adolescent support hotlines
For individual support for children and adolescents in bullying cases, the following support hotlines are available: European Child and Adolescent Support Line 116111, Helpline 1440, Helpline 1410, Help and Complaints Line 1480 and Immediate Helpline 1455
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