Two advisory committees investigating bullying in ACT schools have agreed that engagement with parents and the community is key to reducing the problem.
The Government tabled the independent Safe and Supportive Schools Education Advisory Committee report together with its response, as well as its response to the Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs report on its Inquiry into the management and minimisation of bullying and violence in schools.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry said both committees had found that bullying and violence in schools echoed wider societal challenges, was not frequent or systemic, and that the government had established a sound basis for maintaining safe, supportive schools.
“The Advisory Committee found that the positive culture of a school as well as engagement with and support from parents and the broader community are fundamental to reducing bullying and violence in schools,” Ms Berry said.
“[It] also found that the Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) approach is an effective framework for schools and communities to create safe and supportive learning environments,” she said.
“PBL is currently being implemented across more than 50 ACT public schools and the Advisory Committee has found that schools actively implementing PBL had seen a positive change.”
Ms Berry said the Advisory Committee supported an ongoing commitment to the implementation of PBL including continued training, in-class mentoring and support.
She said it had acknowledged the Governments investment in supporting, managing and responding to children with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
“The Advisory Committee in its report made a series of observations, rather than recommendations,” she said.
“The government is acting on this advice.”
Ms Berry said the Standing Committee found that schools were safe places where incidents of bullying, cyber bullying and violence in ACT schools were infrequent.
She said the Standing Committee report made 23 recommendations
“Of these, the government response agrees to 12 recommendations; agrees in principle to nine recommendations; and notes two recommendations,” Ms Berry said.
The tabled 97- page School Education Advisory Committee report and the 14-page Government response can be accessed at this PS News link.
