Prevalence of bullying and victimisation among school-age children has severe consequences, both in the short and long term, NBSE underscores. (Illustration by Sandemo Ngullie)
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NBSE expresses ‘grave concern’ over incidences of bullying
Kohima, June 20 (MExN): With the instances of students seeking to transfer due to incidences of bullying in some schools, the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has notified the heads of institutions to put in place a ‘Zero Tolerance policy’ in place to curb the menace of bullying and ragging in schools or hostels.
The heads of institutions has been further reminded to have a robust Anti-Bullying and Ragging Committee by referring to the NBSE’s General Rules (see box), applicable to all registered institutions registered under the Board in Nagaland.
In a notification issued via the State DIPR, the Board also urged the heads of institutions to take all possible measures to create a conducive environment for the learners and ensure that no child becomes a victim of bullying/ragging.
Every act of ragging/bullying, major or minor, is beyond the limits of decency, morality, and humanity, the NBSE stated.
Accordingly, it noted that prevalence of bullying and victimisation among school-going children is a grave concern, and carries severe consequences in both the short and long term.
It further cited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reports that bullying has a significant negative effect on children’s mental health, quality of life, and academic achievement.
“Children who are frequently bullied are nearly three times more likely to feel like an outsider at school and more than twice as likely to miss school as those who are not frequently bullied,” the NBSE highlighted.
They have worse educational outcomes than their peers and are also more likely to leave formal education after finishing secondary school, it added.
In this connection, the NBSE stressed that there is an urgent need for institutions to have a School Counsellor to support students socially, emotionally, and academically when facing challenges that can prevent them from fully thriving within the school setting.
NBSE’s General Rules on Bullying & Ragging
To curb the menace of bullying and ragging in school/hostel, all schools/institutions should initiate a prevention programme and constitute an Anti-Bullying and Ragging Committee.
The committee should consist of a minimum of 7 to 9 members who will serve a term of three years and should include Vice Principal/Assistant Headmaster, a senior teacher, school doctor/nurse, Counselor, PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) representative, School management representative, legal representative, etc.
Roles and responsibilities of the Committee:
i. Development and review of School bullying/ragging prevention plan.
ii. Development and implementing bullying/ragging prevention programmes.
iii. Developing training programmes for staff, students and parents.
iv. Creating awareness through various programmes.
v. Being vigilant and observing signs of bullying/ragging and responding quickly and sensitively.
vi. Names and contact numbers of the Committee members should be clearly displayed everywhere in the school premises.
• The Committee shall recommend appropriate actions and penalties for such cases of bullying and ragging. School’s decision taken after following process of fair investigation should not be ordinarily challengeable.
• Any other act which threatens to break or disturb the moral and administrative fabric of the school shall also be taken up or looked into by the Committee.
Source: ‘GENERAL RULES’, NBSE 2019; Abridged for brevity
