Violence in schools: there is a proposal to prosecute the parents of aggressive children

Hits, kicks, humiliation, mockery – unfortunately, this is everyday life for many Latvian students. The study commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) concluded that 24% of students experienced physical violence, while emotional violence in the school environment is even more common – 37% of students experienced it. The most frequent perpetrators are classmates. In addition, the ministry has found that only half of all schools implement a violence reduction program.

“The other 50% remains. Let’s work, let’s think how to more successfully support both local governments and educational institutions, implementing these programs in a meaningful way, perhaps also thinking about financial support, so that it is not only within the framework of projects,” said Olga Ozola, deputy director of the Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

A unified action algorithm for how to act properly if violence has occurred at school is currently being developed by the Child Protection Center. However, schools can implement violence prevention programs on their own initiative.

“There are programs that focus more on prevention, there are programs that focus on support, and there are programs that focus on solving acute cases,” said Ivans Jānis Mihailovs, deputy director of the State Service for Education Quality.

Meanwhile, deputy Česlavs Batņa (AS), who himself was the director of several schools, pointed out a dangerous trend – it is the school leaders who often cover up and even hide the violence among students.

“Yet, God forbid, mom and dad are familiar with the principal. Well, then you generally drive into complete oats. And that violence grows like a snowball into a real ball! There should be a drastic action against the leaders of the educational institution for keeping this quiet! Those directors who are hiding these facts should be searched,” said Batņa.

The deputy also encourages the parents of violent children to be held criminally liable, because the existing punishment measures do not worry these families so much. The Teachers’ Union (LIZDA) would also like to establish criminal liability for parents.

“There is a feeling of impunity, and the feeling of impunity between parents and students is quite high, and we would also ask to review the articles of the Criminal Law, which would promote a culture of a safe environment in every educational institution,” said LIZDA head Inga Vanaga.

At the moment, representatives of three ministries and several institutions are working to eliminate violence in Latvian schools, sometimes the work overlaps, so there was also a proposal to create a separate Ministry of Children’s Affairs.

“Colleagues, we are missing the Ministry of Children’s Affairs! We are all very, very lacking, and there was a good suggestion – maybe start with a subcommittee?” asked MP Antonina Nenasheva (P).

This idea does not create listening ears among the deputies.

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