Moldovan cabinet backs anti-bullying regulations in education

Chisinau, 17 November /MOLDPRES/ - The cabinet of ministers has backed a legislative initiative on amending the Education Code, in order to regulate the notion of bullying in the education system, as well as the principle of non-violence. The Moldovan government approved a note to this effect today.

Under the draft, the notion of bullying will be introduced, in order to specify, highlight the characteristic features of this phenomenon and of delimiting the circle of subjects and place where bullying situations can take place.

Presently, the notion of bullying has no legal regulation and the completion of the term in the Education Code will allow a better understanding of the phenomenon and will represent a starting point for the anti-bullying regulations promoted by the Education and Research Ministry (MEC). At the same time, the draft law is a response to the authentic needs of children and teenagers to feel protected and in safety in the education environment.     

The draft also sees that, in one month after the law enters into force, MEC will approve the methodology on the prevention and combating of bullying.  

Once in half a year, the Education Ministry, based on reports by the local specialty bodies in the education sector and of the subordinated institutions, compiles a report on the suspect and confirmed cases of violence, negligence, exploitation and trafficking of the child. The aforementioned data is public and can be consulted on the ministry’s official page.   

Bullying is a repeated aggressive behavior where one person (or group of people) in a position of power deliberately intimidates, abuses, or coerces an individual with the intention to hurt that person physically or emotionally. The bullying phenomenon can be present in any type of community, in social groups, where people interact with each other: at school, working place, in family, in yards, in church, mass media, even between countries, etc.  

Photo: usatoday.com