A new culture is needed in education

Making sure children feel safe will require changes at school and in pupils’ homes

Students walk to their class at Al Aasimah School, boys government school in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

Sometimes, a statistic is so astonishing that it doesn’t seem to make sense. That must have been the reaction of more than one parent who read our story on school bullying yesterday.

Could it really be true that only half of pupils feel safe at school? Or that one in three children in the capital has been physically harmed more than once at school? These results, from a huge poll of 52,000 pupils by the schools regulator Abu Dhabi Education Council, suggest something serious is happening – and it will require wholesale cultural change to resolve.

Perhaps the root of the problem is that, due to the rapid development of the UAE, we have spent more time building schools than building a culture of pastoral care – creating a supportive learning environment in which pupils, teachers and parents all have roles and responsibilities.

To some degree, it is understandable that a broader teaching culture has not yet formed. There are many different nationalities in the country and many people are here for only a relatively short period of time. That isn’t an excuse for not seeking serious reform going forward.

Where, then, to start? A problem this complex has many strands. There is, firstly, the question of education, of ensuring pupils and teachers understand the dangers of bullying, so that teachers can spot it in their pupils. There must be a supportive environment in schools, where pupils can feel safe to report any bullying without fearing repercussions.

Parents also have a serious role. Too often, parents see schools as places to leave their children and take little interest in what happens there. At the same time, they may be reluctant or incredulous when faced with the suggestion their little darlings have been causing problems. It is important that parents understand they are not being accused, but that they do have an important role to play in ending the behaviour.

There will be times when parents will have to take the side of the school against their children – having parental support in enforcing discipline is essential to ending bullying.

Piece by piece, a culture that is supportive of pupils and intolerant of bullying can be built. But it won’t happen overnight, and it will take parents, pupils, teachers all pulling together, as well as the support of the state.