Bullying, ragging prevention policy issued

A policy has been issued in an effort to curb bullying and ragging at educational institutions, with mandating strict measures against teachers and students involved in ragging, the training of specific teachers as counsellors, and regular monitoring and cooperation from institution authorities and field-level education administration officials.

The policy was published on the website of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education on Wednesday (May 3).

The policy will be implemented immediately and to be enforced at all educational institutions across the country.

It was sent to the chairman of the University Grants Commission, vice chancellors of all universities and heads of all institutions.

Titled “Policy for the Prevention of Bullying and Ragging in Educational Institutions 2023,” it will be applicable to all educational institutions in the country.

It states that each educational institution must form a bullying and ragging-prevention committee consisting of three to five members.

If allegations of bullying or ragging are found against any teacher, staff member, student or even members of the governing council, action will be taken according to the prevailing procedures including criminal law, if applicable.

The policy also mentions the responsibilities of authorities, officials and heads of educational institutions in preventing bullying and ragging, emphasizing that no activity, gathering, or event that promotes bullying or ragging will be allowed.

In places where there is a risk of bullying and ragging, the authorities will install CCTV cameras for monitoring.

The authorities of educational institutions (including residential halls) will report incidents of bullying and ragging to higher authorities; otherwise, they will be held responsible for their inaction.

To raise awareness, the authorities will disseminate examples and consequences of bullying and ragging through their website and posters displayed on institution premises, it said.

At the beginning of the academic year, authorities will observe an “anti-bullying and ragging day” to raise awareness among stakeholders about the consequences of bullying and ragging.

Students, teachers and parents will have to take an oath. They will sign a pledge to never directly or indirectly engage in bullying or ragging, to report any instances of bullying or ragging they witness and to inform the authorities if necessary.

The authorities will organize co-curricular workshops featuring movies, cartoons, and TV series related to the consequences of bullying and ragging, as well as workshops on responsible online behaviour.

In an effort to prevent bullying and ragging, authorities will arrange for students to participate in extracurricular activities.

Teachers will use roleplay to help students understand the consequences of bullying and ragging and encourage them to come up with solutions to related problems on their own.