The Ministry of Education is launching its National Bullying Prevention
Week campaign, running from 22 to 28 April 2018, to raise awareness on bullying
across the UAE in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and
Childhood and in partnership with more than 20 local and federal entities. The
campaign has been organized under the patronage of H.H Sheikha Fatima Bint
Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the
Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for
Motherhood and Childhood and UAE Ministers.
Throughout the week, trained educators and consultants will visit public
and private schools and shed light on various bullying matters such as what is
bullying, its different forms, what is cyber bullying, what are the
characteristics of a bully, the impact of bullying on children and how it could
negatively impact their lives and mental health and why do bully’s behave the
way they do. During these visits the
students will be advised on how to act or respond if they encounter a bully or
witness anyone being bullied at school, home or anywhere.
The Minister of Education, HE Eng. Hussein Al-Hammadi, stated that
having the campaign under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint
Mubarak, is giving the Ministry and its partners the motivation to unite in
efforts to support children and implement the best programs and initiatives to
ensure their well-being. He also pointed out that Her Highnesses efforts in
promoting the viability of life and protection of children is very influential
in its sustainability.
HE Al Hammadi added that bullying
shouldn’t be excluded or ignored as its sensitive topic that directly affects a
student’s surrounding and could create a gap between him/her and the school
community if it is not handled in a methodical manner or the root cause
investigated and treated. The Ministry is keen on collecting data related to
bullying to get a clear idea on its prevalence in our schools and be able to
provide decision makers in the educational sector with reliable information on
this matter to support their decisions. The National Bullying Prevention Week
activities promote educational concepts that have a significant impact in our
community and highlight our common values and the societal and institutional
efforts to eliminate bullying.
He highlighted that the phenomenon of bullying and its
various forms threaten the safety of schools, hinder developing a stimulating
learning environment and lead to behavioural problems that prevent student’s
development. He stated that bullying should be identified as a critical concern
amongst school administrations since protecting children and ensuring we
provide them with a safe, positive and happy environment is an important pillar
and goal within the UAE Agenda, particularly the issuance of Wadeema's Law. The
Ministry is keen to keep pace with the causes of this phenomenon and address
them by any means necessary. He concluded by emphasizing the role of schools in
understand the issue and countering its negative effects.
Commenting on the initiative, Minister of State for General Education,
H.E. Jameela Salem Al Muhairi said: “In light of this campaign we are
determined to educate our students and to raise the awareness of the public on
bullying and its harmful effects. Multiple
research studies have found that the short term and long-term effects of
bullying on those involved, on the education system and or the wider society
are far more profound and lasting than previously believed. Bullying negatively
affects students’ educational performance and their emotional and mental
growth. For example, repeated name-calling, teasing and physical assault are
often causes for increased absenteeism among those students who feel
vulnerable, insecure and alienated. According to the latest World Health
Organization report a substantial number of our school children develop a
growing sense that school is not a safe place to be. Ultimately, these feelings
contribute to a school climate where learning is disrupted, and teaching time
is wasted on classroom management, while, in a respectful, positive and
peaceful work environment both teacher and student performance flourish. Morale
greatly improves when educators are able to focus more on teaching and less on
discipline at school. An overall school culture of respect creates a more
welcoming environment for families and can contribute to greater parental
involvement.”
HE added, “Beyond school, the corporate world increasingly identifies
interpersonal skills as one of the most important contributors to workplace
success. Corporations recognize the need to prepare students to live and work
successfully in our pluralistic, peaceful nation and global community and
invest resource into workplace readiness.”
“An emerging form of bullying such as cyber bullying has been at the
centre of our attention. The ease of accessibility to the internet has made our
children prone to being bullied anywhere and at any time, hence why it’s
important for children and teens to comprehend its complications and harm.”
HE concluded by saying “With our wise leaderships guidance, the UAE is
set to flourish and become one of the happiest countries in the world.
Happiness, positivity, tolerance and compassion are values we believe in and
want to instill in youth to ensure everyone lives in harmony. Living by these
values will help us eliminate behaviours such as bullying that affects the
academic performance as well as mental and physical wellbeing of children. The
Ministry of Education is committed to providing students with a safe and
nurturing environment that allows them to accept each other’s individuality and
embrace differences and have them be part of the drive towards the UAE’s
economic development.”
H.E. Dr Ahmad
Belhoul Al Falasi , minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Sills,
stressed that the National Bullying Prevention Week is an opportunity to shed
light on this phenomenon and educate the society. The objective of this week
can be achieved mainly through sharing roles between the schools and parents as
well as ensuring continuous communication amongst the different stakeholders of
education in order to correct any misbehavior and attend to its impact on the
school community.
Dr Al Falasi
confirmed that negativity and distortion free stable education environment is
what we look for and aspire for our students. No good education can be
guaranteed in an atmosphere of apprehension and repercussions generated by
bulling when students are victims of such physical or verbal abuse.
H. E. Highlighted
that the impact of bulling can be carried on to university level leading
victims to drop out or be isolated or become bullies themselves.
HE Rym Abdullah Al Falasy, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for
Motherhood & Childhood, affirmed the council's concern towards students’
wellbeing and added that H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is keen to provide
students with leading opportunities. Hence, HH has instructed to organize these
special programs for students and improve their intellect and life principles.
HE Al Falasy added that the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood
selected school students to develop an anti-bullying program in cooperation
with Ministry of Education, where the program was implemented at more than 60
schools including school principals, academic mentors and school nurses.
Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing HE Ohood bint Khalfan Al
Roumi reiterated the important role the National Bullying Prevention Committee
plays in promoting a positive culture and instilling moral values that will
reduce bullying behaviour and its psychological impact in UAE schools. HE Al
Roumi emphasized that the psychological health our students is a priority and
critical in developing our future generation. She stated that Mental health is as
important as the prevention of physical diseases, and that it requires
proactive actions that determine the root cause to why a student might bully
his colleagues.
Due to the critical role parents, educators, family members, adults and
the community play in fighting bullying, it’s key to let them know that each
individual that witnesses or is aware of a bullying incident has a social
responsibility to speak up, intervene, show solidarity with the victim or even
report to concerned authorities if necessary. It’s imperative for the community
to know how to identify if someone is being bullied, what they do and how they
should intervene to break the cycle of bullying and provide support and care to
the victims and ensure a bullying free environment. During the campaign, the
Ministry along with its partners will convey all of the above to the community
as well as demonstrate effective interventions that have proven to be
successful in preventing or resolving bullying.
As part of the campaigns activities, the Ministry is organizing
walkathons in public destinations in efforts of combating this social
phenomenon. Hundreds of students and teachers are set to be part of these
walkathons. The Ministry is also hosting a youth circle session for cycle 3
students in collaboration with Minister of state for Youth to discuss bullying
and come up with solutions related to the topic.
Throughout the seven days of the National Bullying Prevention Week the
Ministry of Education’s partners; Ministry of State for Happiness, Sharjah Social
Services Department, Ministry of Community Development, Dubai Foundation For Women
& Children, Sharjah Education Council, Ministry of Culture and Knowledge
Development, Ministry of Health and Prevention, United Arab Emirates
University, Department of Education and Knowledge Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health
Authority (DHA), Emirates Youth Council, Supreme Council of Family Affairs, Dubai
Police, Abu Dhabi Media and Dubai Media Incorporated will be organizing either educational
activities, lectures, interactive sessions or workshops.
According to a recent report released by UNESCO, it is estimated that
every year, 246 million children and adolescents experience some forms of
violence in school and are bullied. The Ministry of Education hasn’t overlooked
these facts and since 2013 has been facilitating workshops and trainings to combat bullying using internationally acclaimed best
practices and interventions. Between the year 2013 and 2017, the
Ministry had trained 696 counsellors, teachers and principals from schools,
meanwhile in April 2018 a specialized workshop was organized it trained 713, of
which 363 are counsellors and 350 principles.
Months ahead of launching this campaign,
the Ministry held a brainstorming session that saw the participation of 10
federal and local entities that are devoted to the cause and ensuring children
have a safe environment. The session was also attended by students, parents,
principles and educators (57 in total) to come up with recommendations. The
Ministry then had a set of meetings and assigned the National Bullying
Prevention Council which currently consists of 27 members.
Last year the Ministry of Education was part of the anti-bullying program
which was executed by The Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood and
rolled out in collaboration with Education and Knowledge Abu Dhabi and UNICEF
in 64 schools. After assessing 13 successful international programs, this
specific program was designed for the UAE and is the first of its kind program
in the Arab world.