Students who bully others will be transferred to another school.

France: School bullies will have to transfer schools, the French Ministry of Education has just issued a new regulation, three months after a female student committed suicide due to bullying at school.

French Education Minister Gabriel Attal last week issued a new regulation to protect victims of school bullying. Bullies will be transferred to a new school. Previously, victims were usually the ones who had to transfer schools. Bullies targeting students from other schools will also be punished.

This is a new step in the fight against bullying and school violence in France, following last year's criminalization of bullying.

"The minister has addressed the issue decisively," said Wilfrid Issanga, director of ALCHM, an organization fighting against bullying and child abuse in France.

Anti-bullying advocacy groups in France have been waiting for such strong measures for years. They argue that forcing a bullied child to transfer schools could be a double punishment, not only for the child but also for their parents. In some rural areas, forcing a victim to attend a school further from home than before could create significant difficulties.

Photo: Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock — Photo: *Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock*

School bullying became a top concern in France following the suicide of Lindsay, a 13-year-old student in Pas-de-Calais, northern France, in May. She was frequently beaten in the schoolyard, the acts filmed, and the videos disseminated on social media without any intervention from school officials. Hundreds of people marched to commemorate Lindsay and call for an end to school bullying in France.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, 6.7% of high school students in France reported experiencing at least five incidents of violence last spring. Another study showed that one in ten students had been bullied at school.

Silence is often the main obstacle to resolving this situation. Many families struggle in silence, and many children even struggle alone.

"The new regulations are a great step forward, but we have to wait and see what will actually change in practice," Issanga concluded.

The French government has made numerous efforts to combat school bullying. Last March, France criminalized school bullying. Bullies can face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 150,000 euros (approximately 3.9 billion VND) if the victim commits suicide or attempts suicide.

Next academic year, France's anti-bullying plan (pHARe) will be expanded to include all high schools and universities. 86% of colleges and 60% of high schools have already signed up for the program.

Hotlines for reporting cyberbullying and child abuse will be publicized through the media. Victims or witnesses can submit evidence to the authorities.

France will also strengthen teacher training on school bullying. The National Institute of Teaching and Higher Education and the French School of Continuing Education will participate in programs to prepare teachers to identify and act against bullies.

School bullying is one of the most pressing issues in global education. According to Atlasocio , a sociological analysis website, nearly 130 million students aged 13 to 15 worldwide are victims of school bullying.

Khanh Linh (According to Euronews, Connexionfrance)

Source link