France School bullies will have to transfer schools, the French Ministry of Education has just issued a new regulation, three months after a female student committed suicide because of being bullied at school.
French Education Minister Gabriel Attal last week introduced a new law to protect victims of school bullying. The bully will be transferred to a new school. Previously, the victim was often the one who had to change schools. Bullies who bully students from other schools will also be punished.
This is a new step in the fight against bullying and school violence in France, following the criminalization of bullying last year.
"The minister has tackled the problem decisively," said Wilfrid Issanga, director of the ALCHM association, an organization fighting bullying and child abuse in France.
Anti-bullying groups in France have been calling for such drastic measures for years. They say forcing a bullied child to change schools can be a double punishment, not only for the child but also for their parents. In some rural areas, having the victim go to a school further away from home than before can be a hardship.
Photo: Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock
School bullying has become a major concern in France following the suicide of Lindsay, a 13-year-old student in Pas-de-Calais in northern France in May. She was repeatedly beaten in the schoolyard, filmed and posted on social media without intervention from school officials. Hundreds of people marched in memory of Lindsay and called for an end to bullying in France.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, 6.7% of French high school students reported experiencing at least five violent incidents last spring. Another study found that one in 10 had been bullied at school.
Silence is often the main obstacle to resolving this situation. Many families struggle in silence, and many children struggle alone.
“The new regulation is a great step forward, but we have to wait and see what will actually change on the ground,” Issanga concluded.
The French government has made efforts to combat school bullying. In March last year, France made bullying a criminal offence. Bullies can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to 150,000 euros (nearly 3.9 billion VND) if the victim commits suicide or attempts to commit suicide.
Next school year, France's anti-bullying plan (pHARe) will be expanded to cover all secondary and tertiary schools. 86% of colleges and 60% of secondary schools have signed up to the program.
Hotlines for reporting cyberbullying and child abuse will be publicized in the media. Victims or witnesses can submit evidence to the authorities.
France will also step up teacher training on school bullying. The National Institute of Teaching and Higher Education and the French School of Continuing Education will participate in programs to prepare teachers to recognize and act against bullies.
Bullying in schools is one of the most pressing issues in global education. According to Atlasocio , a social analysis website, nearly 130 million students between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide are victims of bullying in schools.
Khanh Linh (According to Euronews, Connexionfrance)
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