Ukraine takes action against school bullying with new anonymous reporting tool

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has taken an important step to combat bullying in schools by launching a new online tool that allows for quick reporting of bullying incidents.

According to the ministry, this innovative solution aims to stop bullying and provide children with a safe environment for learning and growth, Rubryka reports.

What's the problem?

Bullying in schools has been a serious issue worldwide, and Ukraine is no exception. According to research from Ukraine's education ministry, over 53% of students have faced bullying at least once. However, most children are afraid to report it to adults due to fear of worsening the situation or being judged by their peers.

"Bullying isn't a new phenomenon, but for many years our society ignored it, downplaying its impact on children, whether from their peers or school staff," says Yevhenia Smirnova, deputy education minister. "We lacked an understanding of what it is and how it can negatively and traumatically affect a child's development. Each of us can only fully develop when we feel physically and psychologically safe. When I was in school, bullying existed too, but no one gave it a clear definition or took action to prevent it."

What's the solution?

The ministry has introduced a quick reporting option for bullying incidents. This new reporting tool aims to reduce fear and give children an effective way to protect their rights.

Now, children or their parents can fill out a short form and submit an electronic complaint, involving school management and, if necessary, the police in addressing the issue.

How does it work?

The complaint submission is designed to be as straightforward as possible. The person filing the complaint needs to:

1. Go to the AICOM website.
2. Register or log in to the personal account — this helps identify the user, but there's also an option to submit a complaint anonymously.
3. Fill out the form — describe the situation and include personal information or keep the complaint anonymous.
4. Submit the complaint — after this, the school principal must respond to the complaint within 24 hours.

Children can file anonymous complaints, which allows them to protect themselves from potential pressure or retaliation from bullies. However, for more serious cases that require police involvement, it's advisable to provide personal information, which can help law enforcement investigate the incident more efficiently.

What happens after a complaint is submitted?

After receiving the complaint, the school principal will convene a special committee to address the situation. School staff, social workers, and police representatives may be involved. This ensures a comprehensive approach to tackling bullying.

If a child is submitting the complaint, they have two options:

• They can choose not to provide identifying information, making the complaint completely anonymous.
• They can provide personal information, which would help the school and police resolve the situation more easily.

If parents or other legal representatives are submitting the complaint, it cannot be anonymous.

Do you need to provide extra evidence or testimony when reporting bullying?

In an anonymous complaint, it's enough to simply describe the bullying incidents. However, if the complaint is sent to the police, evidence or testimony may be needed to confirm the bullying. While it's not mandatory, it will significantly ease the investigation.

Can classmates find out if someone reports bullying?

No, only the school principal and police representatives can see the complaint. School staff and police will act solely in the child's best interests, so they will not share the name or any personal information unless there is an urgent need.

Confidentiality and safety

The ministry guarantees that the data of those filing complaints will be kept completely confidential. No personal information about the child will be disclosed without their consent. This makes the new system even more appealing to children who are afraid to report bullying due to possible repercussions.

What should I do if I notice bullying but am not a victim?

In this case, you can report that someone is being bullied at school and review materials on how to respond to bullying. You can do this anonymously or provide your name.

What should I do if I'm afraid to report bullying due to possible retaliation from classmates?

The child can submit a complaint completely anonymously, but if they're still hesitant, you can use a chatbot. It can provide information on how to respond to bullying and support yourself and others.

To recap, the Peaceful School program selects schools to implement a model to create a safe environment in the school community by preventing violence and reducing conflict.