Akbar Calls For Parents’ Help

The Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar has called on parents to relook at how they teach their children.

She was commenting on the more than 27000 cases of violence were recorded in both primary and secondary schools last year.

Ms Akbar said bullying in schools would continue if the cycle of violence was not broken.

“Bullying is mostly observed in isolated schools and hostels and we as a community, individuals and families, should ask ourselves what we are going to do about this issue and how do children adapt to this behaviour,” she said.

She said blaming the teachers, schools, and the Ministry of Education was not the solution.

“The solution lies within our homes where parents and schools should work together and that will be the biggest success.

“Parents are the ones from whom our children learn from and if parents do the wrong thing like fight at home, then the children will surely imitate them,” she said.

She said she was shocked to see the video of the Ratu Kadavulevu School student getting brutally beaten by other students.

“Their is a need to protect both the victim and the perpetrator as violence is not taught in schools,” Ms Akbar said.

She urged parents to relook the teachings they imparted to their children.

“I need co-operation from families as the values taught to them will reflect on the behaviour they show in school,’ she said.

According to the 2019 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) report released by the Ministry of Education there were about 27,289 cases.

These include cases of bullying, cyberbullying, punching, beating, slapping, swearing and name calling.

There were;

13, 084 cases for Primary school girls

1134 cases for Secondary schools girls

11, 850 cases for Primary school boys

1221 cases for Secondary school boys

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

Feedback: shreeya.verma@fijisun.com.fj