Children and parents informed employees from the education sector about over 6,000 cases of violence against children in September – December 2013, up over 2,000 cases on March – May 2013, IPN reports.

According to a report produced by the Ministry of Education, over 3,000 children were subject to physical abuse, almost 2,000 to psychological abuse, while 43 to sexual abuse.

The Ministry of Education ascertained that the steps taken to prevent the use of violence do not produce the expected results. Consequently, the number of cases of abuse against children is on the rise. The Ministry is daily informed about cases of violence that can be prevented and solved at education institutions. But there are school principals who do not report cases of abuse against children in order not to harm the institution’s image. Also, some of the employees are intimidated and do not feel safe when they report cases of violence.

In 2014, the Ministry of Education aims to contribute, together with the other ministries, to the adoption by the Government of the inter-sector mechanism for cooperation in providing assistance to and monitoring child victims and potential victims of abuse, negligence, exploitation and traffic. The Ministry recommended introducing the module on the prevention and protection of children from violence in the initial and continuous formation curricula for teachers.