New measures against bullying at school

School bullying is repetitive physical, verbal, or psychological violence perpetrated by one or more students against a classmate. He is recognized as a offense since law of 2 march 2022.

Since 2017, the harassment and cyber-harassment prevention policy has been structured around the program pHARe. In light of the increasing number of acts of harassment in schools, this mechanism should be extended to new provisions in 2023.

pHARe program extended to high schools and 100% of schools and colleges

The pHARe program, launched in 2021 in schools and colleges, will be extended to high schools by the start of the 2023 school year.

Moreover, while 60% of schools and 86% of colleges are enrolled in the program, a target of 100% must be met.

Better visibility on emergency numbers

While the program relies on two emergency numbers, the 3018 and the 3020, the provision of these numbers in correspondence books and on the institutions' digital communication media will be made systematic.

Train all staff in the fight against bullying at school

The law of 2 March 2022 states that all staff will have to be trained to combat school harassment, starting with the systemic training of trainee teachers. The National Institutes of Professorship and Education (INSPE) and the Academic Schools of Continuing Education (EAFC) will have to integrate this training.

A new provision in the first degree to allow for the separation of pupils

The fight against bullying is about preventing bullying and protecting students. There are currently no disciplinary measures in the first degree (unlike in the second degree), two new additional educational responses (2^e and 3^e levels) are as follows:

• 1^er level: situation taken care of by the educational team, pupils and parents adhere to the method and the situation is resolved.
• 2^e level: despite an attempt at conciliation, the harassment situation persists. In this case, a departmental intervention team could be called upon; psychologists from national education and health personnel could be involved in the reflection.
• 3^e level: where, through his or her repeated and intentional behavior, the child who has been the subject of harassment poses a serious threat to the safety or health of other pupils, he or she may be assigned to another school without the consent of the legal representatives. The Education Code needs to be amended to provide for this safeguard for the safety and health of students. Enrollment in a new school is subject to the agreement of the mayor of the municipality concerned.