There were almost 800 reported cases of bullying in State schools alone over the past four years, reinforcing the need for proper legislation to address the issue, according to the teachers’ union.

Malta Union of Teachers president Kevin Bonello says educators have very little room for manoeuvre because parents still had the last say and a veto on any action.

According to Mr Bonello, the figures show how serious the problem of bullying in schools is and highlighting the urgent need for legislation.

“We have been saying this for years. There has to be legislation, not just to protect children from bullying but also those who work in schools,” he said.

“The incidence of student-teacher bullying is also on the increase. We have at least a case every week.

“I’m not saying this to alarm people but we need to put everything into perspective.”

Official statistics show there were 792 cases of reported bullying in State primary and secondary schools during the 2009-2010 scholastic year and the one that just ended.

There were 117 cases in primary schools and 97 in secondary schools in 2009-2010, falling to 87 in primary schools and 95 in secondary schools the following year.

During the 2011-2012 scholastic year, the number of reported cases in primary schools climbed to 104 while in secondary schools the figure dropped to 88.

There were almost 800 cases in the past four years

In the last scholastic year, there were 107 cases in primary schools and 97 in secondary schools. The figures cover the period until May.

Bullying is not only physical but also psychological, especially against teachers, who feel threatened for simply doing their job, standing up to students or putting their foot down to have order in the classroom.

“Unfortunately, given the present state of play, there is very little the authorities can do about it, Mr Bonello said.

“More often than not, action is taken and in extreme cases the student is suspended for a couple of days. But is this enough?

“In other countries, educators have a free hand to take certain decisions such as referring the student to certain support centres if the behaviour is systematic, where the student can follow a reform programme.

“But here, parents still have the right to veto such decisions, so nothing more can be done.”

Mr Bonello said that during the past scholastic year there was a serious case of sexual harassment on a teacher whose teenage student groped her at school.

Action was taken and the school disciplined the student and referred him for support.

But will the student do the same thing again or will other classmates follow suit, he asked.

It’s more psychological bullying that I see

“This is why we need legislation,” he said.

Mr Bonello referred to a recent case at the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology where a student sent an e-mail to his lecturer threatening to blow up the place if he did not pass his examination. The case was only referred to the police because the union intervened, he said.

A teacher, who spoke to Times of Malta on condition of anonymity, said she had noticed an increase in bullying among students in the school where she teaches.

“It’s more psychological bullying that I see. Excluding certain students from games during the break is the most common form.

“They also pick on them, take their lunches and tease them.”

She said she had experienced bullying by some of her students.

“Imagine a student comes up to you one day and tells you: ‘Yesterday, I didn’t have time to do my homework. Don’t tell anyone or I’ll tell my father to rough you up.’

“How does a teacher feel when a little nine-year-old tells you that in an arrogant tone? Why should I bother?”

Another teacher said bullying was on the increase, attributing it to the bad influence of certain television programmes children watched and computer games they were allowed to play.

He appealed to parents to be cautious over what their children watched as this could have repercussions when they grew up.

mxuereb@timesofmalta.com

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