Dubai steps up efforts to tackle bullying in education

Detailed summary

Dubai is increasing efforts to tackle bullying across the emirate's private education sector.A new unified reporting system is being introduced and will apply to all private…

Dubai is introducing a unified online system for reporting bullying across its entire private education sector.

Previously, many schools would handle the issue of bullying and abuse in house but now all cases must be registered on the new system, so the education authority can track the complaint to make sure it is dealt with properly.

The new system will apply to all private educational institutions licensed and permitted by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), including early childhood centres, schools, higher education institutions, and training and vocational institutes, in physical and virtual learning environments.

“The safety, well-being and development of every learner are fundamental to our society’s future,” said Dr Saeed Kharbash, chief executive of policies, research and programmes at the KHDA.

“These new directives reflect Dubai’s commitment to placing children and families at the heart of our social development journey.”

The new framework applies to learners aged 21 or under, which means that higher education students are included and not only those still at school.

“Safeguarding cannot be the responsibility of a single person, team or institution alone. It is a shared responsibility that requires strong leadership, capable professionals, informed families and a culture in which learners are heard and supported,” said Dr Kharbash.

“The policy framework provides our education community with the clarity, accountability and tools needed to embed safeguarding into everyday practice.”

Another important facet of the new system is that records of pupils involved in incidents of bullying will stay in the system, even if they transfer to a new school within the emirate. Previously it was often the case that records were not shared between schools if a pupil moved.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The National. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.