Nipping bullying in the bud

Bullying has to be dealt with effectively to deter others from being tempted to indulge in such a harmful practice, Labour's education spokesman Carmelo Abela said yesterday.

Referring to a recent case of bullying at Mcast, when a number of students were arraigned and given suspended jail terms, Mr Abela said court sentences had to be a real deterrent.

In a recent case in Italy, where the victim of bullying was a disabled child, Mr Abela said the courts had sent the bullies to work in a home for people with disability to make them realise how tough these people's lives were.