Public schools and the Ministry of Education are facing a deadlock in managing students involved in extreme cases of violence.
This was revealed to Phileleftheros by a knowledgeable source, following the shocking case of a high school student’s sexual abuse by three of his classmates.
The victim has had to coexist in the same school unit for over 1.5 months, while the three perpetrators (now only two) continued to bully him.
Regarding this tragic incident and the prolonged coexistence of the students, it appears that the Ministry of Education did not have another alternative space or educational structure to which the involved students could be transferred.
Currently, both police and internal investigations are ongoing, as reported to us.
What complicates matters for schools, as emphasized to us, is managing students who are perpetrators in such incidents.
“These children are allowed to continue attending schools without further management, resulting in schools being left without support from other services and without other options.” This, as pointed out to us, happens because significant provisions of the relevant law have not yet been implemented, such as the operation of a Children’s Detention Centre or Day Centre.
“The Ministry of Education defends its handling of the situation, especially in response to statements by MPs, that children under investigation (potential perpetrators) were allowed to attend and operate in the same spaces as a child who reported sexual abuse (potential victim),” it was noted.
Instead of targeting one of the most significant institutions of the state, that of public schools and education, the same source suggests it is wiser for all involved services to collaborate.
“To encourage the positive turn towards discussing and reporting such phenomena, as only this will effectively address this serious problem.”
It was also noted that educators play a crucial role in identifying and reporting such incidents. “Based on statistics, educators are the second-largest group reporting cases of sexual violence against children to the Police.”
The contribution of educators in reporting cases of child sexual abuse is highlighted, our source informs us, by the data collected during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, where reports of abuse had decreased while violence had sharply increased.
“The role of educators and schools is crucial for prevention and reporting of incidents. For this issue, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Pedagogical Institute and the Educational Psychology Service, has issued handbooks and circulars, promoting prevention in schools.”
Among the contentious policies to address the phenomenon is the National Strategy for the Prevention and Combating of Sexual Violence against Children. Since 2016, the Ministry of Education has been organising training for educators at all levels so they can recognise and handle incidents of sexual abuse correctly.
“The goal is singular: to make the school a refuge for the child in case of abuse by family members or other perpetrators.”
For this purpose, an educational handbook was issued in 2017, which was updated in 2023.
It is reminded that identifying and reporting incidents to the competent Authorities (Police and Social Welfare Services) is an individual obligation based on the Prevention and Combating of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Minors and Child Pornography Law of 2014.
