To feel protected, the children request the authorities to make sure that a psychologist is employed in each school, to introduce a code of well-defined rules on how to address bullying and an educational programs that would help the students to prevent bullying. The children ask the teachers to treat everyone equally, regardless of the social and economic status or level of nowledge, to be more attentive, open and friendly and to intervene in situations of bullying.

In a news conference centering on bullying, the children had a dialogue with the authorities, teachers and parents about the identified problems and the solutions they see for a school without bullying, IPN reports, quoting a oppress release of the NGO “Terre des homes Moldova”, which implemented the project “Joint Efforts to Combat Bullying in Moldova”.

The children said they want the parents to talk calmly and explicitly to them, without shouting at them, while their mates should be benevolent and respectful with each other and communicate openly and friendly so as to resolve disputes.

Both the children and parents, teachers and representatives of education divisions said the absence of a professional and committed psychologist attentive to the needs of children in each school is the most serious shortcoming, while the second important aspect is the necessity of continuous training for teachers and parents.  

Svetlana Pelin, psychologist at an education institution in Basarabeasca town, said one psychologist in school cannot cope and emphasis should be placed on intervention since the primary school so as to be able to fight bullying.

Parent Natalia Madan noted the parents need training in communication and need to permanently learn how to efficiently communicate with their children at all ages, not to criticize and ignore the children when they relate something and to validate all the emotions, which is very important.

Attending the debate, secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research Natalia Grâu said they expect to receive an official report with all the recommendations for analyzing it. The current education year was a difficult one due to the pandemic and many of the existing problems worsened.

UNICEF Moldova Deputy Country Representative Ilija Talev stated that the problem of bullying cannot and should not be solved without the active participation of children, who are those who experience this phenomenon and suffer because of it.

Almost 400 teens from all over the country contributed as participants and as experts to the “Analysis of the needs of children for feeling safe and having a bullying-free school”. The analysis is part of the project “Joint Efforts to Combat Bullying in Moldova” that was implemented by “Terre des homes” Moldova in 30 national schools during August 2020 – May 2021 with assistance from UNICEF Moldova, ChildHub and Oak Foundation.