30 Schools Join Drive Against Bullying

Students, teachers and parents from 30 schools across 20 districts and 27 upazilas in Bangladesh are taking part in activities to address school violence, bullying and cyberbullying and identify practical ways to create safer, more supportive learning environments. The discussions are bringing together students, families, educators and community representatives to share experiences and concerns, with a focus on mental wellbeing, online safety, teacher support and collective responsibility.

The activities mark the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, Including Cyberbullying. This year’s theme is “Every learner safe and well: From promise to practice.”

UNESCO Dhaka is supporting the activities through its Health Promoting School (HPS) programme, in collaboration with the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM). Alongside violence prevention, the initiative focuses on mental wellbeing, support for teachers, digital safety and building school environments where every learner feels safe and supported.

Professor Dr Wasim Md. Mezbahul Haque, Director General of NAEM, said, “Well-trained teachers can support building a healthier nation. Under the HPS programme, NAEM is training teachers, education administrators and managers in education for health and well-being, including mental health and well-being, gender-based violence, referral system mechanism and psychological first aid. Teachers are also equipped to tackle SRGBV. But we should keep in mind that to stop SRGBV, both the school and the community need to work together.”

Using guidelines developed by DSHE and NAEM, students, teachers, parents and community representatives are sharing their experiences and concerns. They are also discussing what schools and families can do together to prevent violence and bullying.

The school-level discussions address violence, bullying, cyberbullying and harassment, including situations in which learners are targeted because they are girls or boys. They provide students with an opportunity to explain the challenges they face and help teachers, parents and school leaders consider how school practices and support systems can better respond to their needs.

“Every child should be safe at school, safe on the way to school and safe online. Tackling bullying must work both to help students, teachers and parents protect themselves and to foster an environment of care and empathy so that bullying does not occur,” said Dr Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh.

At Aganagar High School in Keraniganj, Dhaka, participants raised concerns about harassment faced by girls and online safety issues affecting students and their families. The discussion also highlighted the need for more information and practical guidance for parents on safe internet use and supporting their children online.

Husna Ara Begum, the school’s headteacher, said, “We will take preventive measures to address harassment and make our school safer. Protecting students is a shared responsibility of teachers, students, guardians, the school’s governing body and the wider community.”

At Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public Pilot High School in Lalmonirhat, banners and placards were used to promote respectful behaviour, empathy and safe internet use. Students were encouraged to respect others’ privacy, avoid sending hurtful messages, support peers experiencing bullying and report incidents to a trusted teacher or parent. The school also emphasised the need for continued cooperation among teachers, students, parents and the wider community, so that care and respect become part of everyday school life.

The school-level activities will be followed by an online teachers’ dialogue on 8 November, facilitated by UNESCO Dhaka. Teachers will share their observations and challenges concerning harassment, violence and cyberbullying affecting students, as well as discuss practical ways to address these issues.

The discussions will inform school-level action plans. Developed with teachers, parents and school management committees, the plans will identify practical measures to prevent harassment, violence and cyberbullying, along with the responsibilities of those involved.

The Health Promoting School programme is a global initiative supported by UNESCO that aims to make health and wellbeing part of everyday school life. It supports health and wellbeing education by strengthening the skills of educators and school leaders and involving families and communities. Lessons from participating schools are expected to inform improvements in health and wellbeing education and practice more widely.

//DBTech/UNRRT/SMP/MVNO//