218 bullying reports received in 2010-2011 scholastic year

Labour’s spokeswoman for the family Justyne Caruana said government should take all necessary measures to eliminate bullying from schools.

According to a parliamentary question, the Education Ministry received 218 reports on bullying cases during the past scholastic year. The reports were sent from government, Church and private schools.

All cases have been forwarded to the government’s section against bullying, the Safe Schools Programme, within the Educational Psycho-Social Services in Malta.

Referring to the European Council’s resolution on Education Against Violence at School, Caruana said the document emphasizes the increase of this phenomenon in schools with the result that more children are suffering from psychological and physical problems.

“The recommendations presented in this program should be studied and implemented in an action programme,” Caruana said.

She added that this would help children have a positive educational experience, free of fear from violence, as established in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.