“Our children grow up in a very different world, in a digital world that are exposed daily to many different forms of violence. So we are called upon parents, teachers, children and state in a common battle in order to break the culture of violence, which is often accepted by children and adolescents as a regularity. ” This was emphasized by the Minister of Education and Religions, Sofia Zacharakiduring the inter -ministerial press conference for the Violence and the offenses of minorsheld earlier today, Monday.
Taking the floor, Mr. Zacharaki He pointed out that the effort to tackle school violence is not starting now, there is already an important framework, such as the “break the silence” and the “Stopbullying” platform, which is decisively enhanced by the measures included in the national strategy.
“It is time to see the punishment as an opportunity – to make the wrong reason for change and personal development,” he said. Zacharaki And he added: “We are moving coordinated in joint actions, teacher training, an increase in the number of education consultants, an increase in the number of psychologists and social workers, new standardization of high schools, a new type of miscarriage. We do not drive the child from school reality. We are introducing the very important institution of child mediation to a child, with the aim of making children the best ambassadors of social behavior who will do it and make us feel safe. “
In particular, the measures for the violence and delinquency of minors 2025-2030 to be implemented by the Ministry of Education are eight:
- Elimination inside school. As Mrs Zacharakis said, the philosophy and purpose of miscarriage will change. The child who gets miscarriage will not be out of school life, but will be out of school class, watching a specific program.
- Adoption of the model of social work supply. As the Minister of Education explained, the child will be able to participate in some social activity or provide assistance (for example a kindergarten of the municipality concerned).
- Integration of the practice of mediation among students (peer mediators).
- Creation of 10 high school techniques, pilots from 2026, to provide another school selection after elementary school. As Mrs Zacharakis noted, there is a good implementation of this institution in Cyprus, and can help achieve two goals: to help children, who wish to be directed to the Vocational High Schools and to reduce the school leak.
- Increasing the number of psychologists and social workers. As the Minister of Education said, today their number in the schools in the territory is 4,226.
- Increasing the number of education consultants and emphasis on training teachers responsible for dealing with in -school violence. According to what Mrs Zacharakis said, 22,663 teachers have already been trained.
- Providing increased legal protection to teachers who report incidents of in -school violence to the standards of the treatment of professionals who manage domestic violence.
Establishment of December 11 (World Children Day) as a day of co -training and awareness of parents, teachers and children and establish, at the start of each school year, a school bullying schools.