Measures to deal with of bullying, delinquency and violence in schools, is received by the Ministry of Education.
According to the Minister of Education, it was decided how to ensure security in a number of High Schools, where there are indications that this is needed or would help their smooth operation and prevent the creation of incidents with the entry of extracurricular actors.
At the same time, as Prodromos Prodromou said, special training on issues of intimidation, violence and delinquency will be established which will be carried out on a permanent basis for all teachers who assume the duties of Head of Department both in Secondary and Primary Education, while the Service will be strengthened Educational Psychologists.
In his statements to the Ministry, Prodromos Prodromou states that “in the last period of time there were meetings with OELMEK and OLTEK, with the Confederation of Federations of Associations of Parents of Secondary Education and the Association of Principals regarding issues of violence and delinquency. While opinions and suggestions were also gathered from managements and teachers during the Minister's visits to schools”.
As the Minister of Education said, “taking into account opinions and suggestions submitted, combined with plans proposed by the Services of the Ministry, it was decided to take some additional measures and strengthen the policies of the Ministry as follows:
(a) Surveillance/guarding is also ensured in a number of High Schools, where there are indications that this is needed or would help their smooth operation and prevent the creation of incidents with the entry of extracurricular factors.
(b) Special training on issues of bullying, violence and delinquency is instituted which will be carried out on a permanent basis for all teachers who take on the duties of Responsible Department in both Secondary and Primary Education. Because it should be noted that Department Heads are closer to the group of students of a department in everyday life and can observe trends, apparent change in behavior, etc. They also often know the personal circumstances or data from the wider social environment of the students. Therefore, together with the other structures and special staff that are activated in the context of school life, they can contribute not only to dealing with incidents, but also to prevention. It is noted, of course, that the Department Managers will not be considered as the exclusive competent or responsible.
(c) The Service of Educational Psychologists (EPS) is strengthened with a number of recruitments made in recent weeks, while it is possible to allocate more time to such tasks after possible improvement changes in the procedures concerning the operation of the Provincial Committees for Special Education .
(d) A more effective logic of “networking” of the various structures is created, such as Department Heads and safety committees and school management teams, the Ministry of Education's Counseling and Vocational Education Service (YSEA), the Educational Psychology Service (YEPS), the structure of the Immediate Intervention Team (IAT). In any case, however, I want to take this opportunity to underline that teachers should not be expected to handle cases that often involve common criminal law offenses on their own and that the State should also support teachers against risks that they are going through or threats that they are receiving.
(e) After the consultations that are already being made with the parliamentary Education Committee for some adjustments that are necessary, the Law passed in 2020 by the Parliament for issues of violence and delinquency. Since last May, the Ministry of the Interior has proposed some improvements that are required to make the Law practically applicable and efficient. Once these adjustments are agreed, the Minister will propose to the Cabinet that the legislation come into force.”
