Ukraine Has Changed Its Rules for Addressing Bullying in Schools
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has updated the procedure for responding to cases of bullying, violence, and abuse of children in educational institutions. In particular, a unified mechanism for handling such cases has been introduced, along with clear response deadlines and the option to report violence anonymously.
Now, the head of the institution must review a report within 24 hours of its registration, and if there are signs of violence, must notify the police and child welfare services no later than three hours after receiving the report. The fact of bullying will be determined by a court, not a school committee.
These changes are related to updates to legislation on the protection of children’s rights. The approaches to defining bullying have been aligned with the Law “On the Protection of Children” and the nationwide system for responding to violence and abuse against children. One of the main changes will be the creation of a single commission in educational institutions to review cases of violence and abuse against children, including reports of bullying. Previously, two separate mechanisms were in place for this purpose.
Signs that may indicate violence have also been defined. These include economic pressure—such as deprivation of property or denial of access to educational services—as well as insults, threats, humiliation, harassment, and intimidation. The list also includes unwanted behavior of a sexual nature—gestures, jokes, nicknames, and the distribution of sexually explicit material—as well as unwanted physical actions ranging from shoving to hitting.
The new rules establish specific response deadlines. The head of the educational institution must review a report within 24 hours of its registration. If signs of violence are detected, the National Police and the Child Protection Service must be notified immediately, but no later than three hours after the report is filed.
At the same time, the school’s commission will not determine whether a specific incident constituted bullying. Under the updated rules, only a court can establish the fact of bullying. Instead, the commission must investigate the circumstances of the incident, assess the child’s needs, and organize the necessary support. The Ministry of Education and Science has also clarified the criterion for determining whether violence is systematic. It will be considered systematic if it recurs two or more times within 12 months from the date the first incident was reported or from the date it occurred, even if the first incident was not officially reported.
Separately, children’s rights are being strengthened during the review of such cases. The child has the right to be heard in a manner appropriate to their age and level of maturity, and their position must be formally recorded. The hearing will take place with the participation of the parents or their representatives, as well as a psychologist or social worker. In the absence of the parents, this is possible with their written consent.
Each educational institution must also establish its own system for preventing violence, adopt relevant internal regulations, designate a person responsible for receiving and recording reports, and maintain a record of all reports. Reports of possible violence can be submitted in various ways—by email, by phone, or through special drop boxes for written reports. Anonymous reports are also permitted.
In addition, educational institutions must monitor the implementation of the commission’s decisions. If the measures taken do not yield the expected results, they must be reviewed and adjusted as necessary. In the near future, the Ministry of Education and Science plans to publish guidelines for implementing the new rules.
This was reported with reference to the Ministry of Education and Science.
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