MoE records 58 reports since launch of anti-bullying portal

Since the launch of its Anti-Bullying Reporting System last November, the Education Ministry has recorded 58 bullying reports, with 48 already addressed, according to Chief Planning Officer Mischka White-Griffith. Speaking on the Starting Point Podcast, White-Griffith explained that the remaining 11 cases are still being investigated while adding that the reporting portal has provided valuable insight into nationwide trends. She noted that this data will be combined with feedback from an ongoing national consultation to help shape a comprehensive policy on anti-bullying and school violence.

She emphasised that the portal has been instrumental in identifying patterns among boys and girls, as well as highlighting the regions where bullying and violence are most prevalent. These findings, she said, will help establish key parameters for the policy.

Addressing the national consultations, which began in January, White-Griffith said they have created an open space for honest discussions among parents, guardians, teachers and students. “You know, there were some parents who said a New Opportunity Corps should be up and running. Others said lashes should come back to school…” she shared, adding that some parents also stressed the importance of restoring respect for teachers. However, she underscored that respect for teachers must first be cultivated at home. “Parents have to help set the standard too. If you come into school to fight the teacher and talk a certain way about the teacher in front of the child, then there is no level of respect in the classroom,” she said. White-Griffith further stated that the consultations have allowed children to safely share their experiences and suggest solutions. Some students, she noted, recommended restorative approaches such as community clean-ups and assisting the elderly as ways to address bullying behaviour. She praised the contributions from students and stakeholders alike, stating that the strong engagement reflects a shared national commitment to finding solutions.

She added that this collective effort bodes well for the successful implementation of the policy once it is finalised. Back in January on this very podcast, Minister of Education Sonia Parag had stated that the anti-bullying campaign forms part of a wider Government strategy, which will entail the use of social media among students. “The officers will take reports. They have to investigate the matter. The welfare officer and the guidance counsellors are all involved. The parents, the child who is the victim, and the alleged aggressor are involved. And so, at the end of that investigation, depending on what the investigation reveals, then we make a determination on what to do on a case-by-case basis,” Parag had explained.

Meanwhile, following the launch earlier this year at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal Greater Georgetown, the Ministry engaged parents, teachers and students of Aurora and Abram Zuil Secondary Schools in Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam) with the aim of stamping out bullying across schools and communities.

During the engagement, one student recommended the introduction of more clubs and extracurricular activities, including chess, sports, field trips and structured group engagements to steer students away from gangs and substance abuse.