Another extreme case of sexual violence in a school, this time in a primary school, was reported to the Education Committee of the Parliament, with a tragic protagonist being a 10-year-old student.
The incident came to light during a session discussing misconduct and criminal acts in schools, attended by the Ministers of Justice and Education.
It was emphasized during the discussion that it is a daily phenomenon for primary school students to strip or intimidate their classmates, and that drugs circulate even in primary school yards.
At another point in the discussion, it was noted that incidents have been concealed out of fear or other reasons.
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis stressed that the responsibility for addressing the problem lies with the Police, especially when educators do not report the incidents. He called on everyone to collaborate.
He also reminded that there is currently a transitional solution for detaining juvenile offenders until 2026, after which another space outside Central Prisons will be created, managed by a private company, so that the Police are not both the prosecutor and protector of the detainees.
The law of 2021 has been implemented, he further stated, citing the example of the House of the Child.
“From 2021 to 2024, 420 young individuals, mostly students, were sent by the YKAN to therapeutic programs,” he said, adding that the YKAN has carried out mapping and monitoring.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou expressed the need to clarify certain things, explaining that the issue of violence and school bullying is very different from that of sexual abuse.
“For sexual abuse, the issue is very different; it seems that educators and children are breaking their silence,” she emphasized.
Regarding the case that came to light last week, where a high school student was sexually abused by his classmates, the Minister stressed that “until the Police investigation for the said case is completed, the school can do very little.”
She reiterated that they are preparing an alternative educational program, which does not concern students who are offenders of sexual abuse but those with extreme delinquent behavior.
From the Police’s side, it was noted that the registered cases involving those under 18 have decreased, as in 2021 they amounted to 496, while in 2023 they were 393.
