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The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY), in recent months and in cooperation with all stakeholders, has been working systematically to prevent and tackle violence and delinquency in schools, an issue that has plagued society at large for many years.
In the direction of reducing incidents of violence and delinquency in schools, specific measures have already been taken and are being implemented within schools, although it is generally accepted that this serious issue is multifactorial and involves many other actors (parents-family, police, support services, community, etc.). In particular, a series of measures have been established by a Council of Ministers' Decision and have been implemented since this year, which, based on research evidence, are effective. Among many others, the following have been instituted. [*]Simplification of crisis management procedures, simplification and strengthening of protocols for cooperation between school units and the Immediate Intervention Team and the Educational Psychology Service. [*]Implementation of a protocol for reporting incidents of violence and delinquency on an electronic platform of the Observatory on Violence in Schools of the Pedagogical Institute. [*]Introduction of preventive programmes at younger ages (pre-school age). [*]Implementation of programmes to develop a culture of acceptance of diversity.
In the above context, and recognising the important role of other bodies, the Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Dr Athena Michaelidou, recently convened a meeting on the subject of tackling violence and delinquency in schools. The Chief of Police, officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare, representatives of the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Pupils, the Pancyprian Confederation of Federations of Associations of Parents' Associations of Secondary Education, the educational organisations OELMEK and OLTEK and the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of School Boards were invited to the meeting. In addition to the above-mentioned guests, the meeting was attended by officials of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (Director General, Director of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education, representative of the Director of Secondary Education, Head of the Health and Citizenship Education Committee, Head of the Educational Psychology Service, etc.). The common assumption of all those present was the fact that most incidents of violence and delinquency on school premises take place during non-working hours.
During the meeting, and after a thorough analysis of all the data, very specific measures were decided upon for immediate implementation, such as. Depending on developments, these measures may be applied to other schools. [*]Review the way in which security staff are recruited and their working conditions. [*]Extension, in high-risk schools, of the high-tech camera system piloted in Limassol schools, following consultation with the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection. Depending on developments, this system may be implemented in other schools. [*]Upgrading of school lighting systems during darkness. [*] Opening up school premises for targeted activities/activities during non-working hours. [*]Implementing alternative programmes to prevent and tackle violence and delinquency in schools. [*]Initiate a debate on the use of mobile phones in schools.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that this issue will continue to be a priority and that all measures will be systematically monitored in order to achieve the common objective of tackling the phenomenon. At the same time, it is recognised that the problem cannot be solved directly or drastically, due to its nature, which is why the measures (most of which are already in place) are mainly concerned with prevention, but also with tackling the phenomenon.
IP
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