Update: Incidents of School Bullying through Electronic Means – Education and Science 27th November, 2014

Uimhir:183

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she and her
Department continue to monitor the incidents of school bullying particularly
through electronic means; if she is satisfied regarding the extent to which
support is made immediately available for victims and that such victims have
ready access to reporting mechanism and subsequent support; and if she will
make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 27th November, 2014.
Reference Number: 45725/14

Minister Jan O’Sullivan

The Deputy will be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying
procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the
2013/14 school year.

These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school
authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based
bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. They place a strong focus on education
and prevention strategies to deal with bullying behaviour including, in
particular, cyberbullying and identity based bullying such as homophobic and
transphobic bullying. The procedures make clear that the focus of any
prevention and education awareness measures in schools about cyber-bullying
should be on educating pupils on how to stay safe while on-line and also on
developing a culture of reporting any concerns about cyber-bullying.  The
procedures also recognise that parents and pupils have a role and
responsibility in helping the school to prevent and address school-based
bullying behaviour and to deal with any negative impact within school of
bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere.

The procedures set out requirements in relation to the consistent
investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour amongst pupils.  
They also require that a programme of support for pupils who have been bullied
must be in place in all schools.  Details of the school’s programme for working
with pupils affected by bullying must be set out in the school’s anti-bullying
policy.

There is no requirement for reporting incidents of bullying centrally to the
Department. The procedures contain new oversight arrangements which include a
requirement that the school Principal reports regularly to the board of
management in relation to the overall numbers of bullying cases and provides
confirmation that they are being dealt with in accordance with the
anti-bullying procedures.  The board of management is also required to
undertake an annual review of the school’s anti-bullying policy and its
implementation by the school. Written confirmation that the review has been
completed must be made available to the Parents’ Association and published on
the school website.

Arising from commitments made in the Action Plan on Bullying, my Department’s
Inspectorate is placing a stronger focus on the actions schools take to create
a positive school culture and to prevent and tackle bullying. For example,
parent and student questionnaires issued as part of whole school evaluations,
include, since January 2014, additional questions to get a clearer picture of
how the school deals with bullying. Furthermore, the Inspectorate’s plan for
the current school year provides for a focussed evaluation to be conducted in a
sample of schools to examine the school’s work to create and sustain safe and
healthy environments.