MES Changed Rules for Responding to Bullying in Educational Institutions

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved updated rules for responding to cases of bullying and applying disciplinary measures in educational institutions. Key changes include a single commission for reviewing violence cases, specific deadlines for management response, and the ability to submit reports anonymously.

The changes are linked to the updating of legislation in the field of child rights protection. Approaches to defining bullying have been aligned with the law "On Child Protection" and the nationwide system for responding to violence and child abuse.

A report must be responded to within 24 hours

The head of the educational institution must review a registered report of possible violence within 24 hours. If signs of violence are detected, the information must be immediately, but no later than three hours later, transmitted to the National Police and the children's service.

Instead of two separate mechanisms for cases of bullying and other forms of violence, a unified approach will now apply. One commission will review reports of violence and child abuse, including possible bullying.

The MES separately clarified that the commission itself does not establish the legal fact of bullying — that falls within the competence of the court. The commission must study the circumstances, determine the child's needs, arrange necessary assistance, and choose further measures taking into account the best interests of the child.

What actions may be considered signs of violence

The updated rules set out a list of manifestations that may indicate violence. These include economic pressure, including deprivation of property or hindering access to educational services, as well as insults, threats, humiliation, harassment, and intimidation.

The list also includes unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical activities of a sexual nature — for example, corresponding gestures, jokes, nicknames, or the dissemination of intimate materials. Signs of violence can also include unwanted physical actions — from pushing to hitting.

At the same time, the criterion of regularity has been clarified. Violence is considered regular if it repeats two or more times within 12 months after the registration of a report of the first case or after the first case itself, even if it was not officially reported at the time.

Violence can be reported anonymously

Each educational institution must create its own system for preventing and countering violence. In particular, it must approve internal regulations, appoint a person responsible for receiving and registering reports, and keep records of them.

Educational institutions must also provide several channels for submissions. The MES mentions email, telephone lines, and special boxes for written messages among them. A report of possible violence may also be submitted anonymously.

Another change concerns monitoring the results of the commission's work. The implementation of its decisions is now subject to mandatory monitoring. If the chosen measures do not produce the expected result, the commission must revise them and adjust if necessary.

Procedural guarantees for the child have also been strengthened. The child's opinion must be heard, taking into account age and level of maturity, and recorded during the case review. As a rule, this takes place with the participation of the child's parents or representatives and a practical psychologist or social pedagogue.

The updated rules apply not only to direct participants in the educational process. They cover members of the educational institution's community — students, staff, and other persons involved in the educational process. The MES also intends to prepare methodological recommendations for the practical implementation of the new requirements.

Based on materials from: Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine