The services manager at the Education Psycho-Social Services Department Sandra Cortis – who also contributed to the ‘Managing Behaviour in Schools’ policy document launched today, said that cases of bullying are “contained”.

She was replying to questions by this newsroom on whether bullying in schools is rampant.

Ms Cortis said that there are no pending reported cases of bullying momentarily which are dealt with the Anti-bullying Unit which is tasked to deal with such cases when made aware by each school’s management team (SMT). She said that the SMT of each school is obliged to report such cases to the unit in order to help the anti-bullying unit to be proactive.

Ms Cortis highlighted that the home school approach being instilled in the education sector is helping as well.

During the launch of the new policy – which speaks about the relevant legislation and legal instruments which are in place tied to the education sector and behaviour classroom management, among other issues, Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo said that there exist many challenges in schools faced by both educators and pupils.

He said that one cannot manage the behaviour of students by telling them to sit down and to be quiet but by enhancing the learning experience and making it more interesting.