Bullying can have long-term consequences. It's important that the education community renews its focus to build a culture that doesn't tolerate it. Delores Johnson / The National
Bullying can have long-term consequences. It's important that the education community renews its focus to build a culture that doesn't tolerate it. Delores Johnson / The National
Bullying can have long-term consequences. It's important that the education community renews its focus to build a culture that doesn't tolerate it. Delores Johnson / The National
Bullying can have long-term consequences. It's important that the education community renews its focus to build a culture that doesn't tolerate it. Delores Johnson / The National


Bullying can't be tolerated as pupils go back to school


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August 26, 2024

Most schools across the UAE reopen for a new academic year today. Pupils, parents and teachers have returned from summer break, preparing for the familiar routine of early starts, home work and school runs. The new session is an exciting but also hectic time in most households with children, as they make last-minute preparations of school uniforms and ensure pupils are equipped with textbooks, stationery, lunch boxes and other essentials of classroom life.

The beginning of school term is an important time in other ways, too. Primary among those is making sure schools continue to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment. This is even more important for new pupils, who need that extra kindness and support in adjusting to teachers and classmates, making friends, and crucially, not being bullied.

Pupils who've been at the receiving end know how traumatising it can be for a school bully to pick on them. In 2019, the National Bullying Prevention Centre in the US said one out of every five pupils had reported being bullied. Even with data somewhat scarce, that number can be comparable to other parts of the world.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education said up to a quarter of all school pupils in the UAE were being bullied. In subsequent years, remedial steps have been taken to put an end to this age-old menace. Some of these include using technology and QR codes to offer pupils the option to anonymously ask for help without fear of repercussions from the bullies.

It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to talk to youngsters, sensitise and remind them of the absolute importance of not causing harm and not staying silent if they witness harm being done

Whether or not parents and teachers see any symptoms (such as behaviour change, altered eating habits, general anxiousness) of children being bullied – or indeed bullying other children – they must have conversations to educate them about acceptable and compassionate behaviour.

It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to talk to youngsters, sensitise and remind them of the absolute importance of not causing harm and not staying silent if they witness harm being done. Too often, even in adults, we hear about long-term psychological effects of bullying. Some parents will remember from their own school days, the humiliation of being easy targets or witnessing a classmate or friend being picked on and the feelings of helpless anger and fear that can follow, and stay in the mind for a long time.

One way of ensuring better mental health in future generations is to make sure pupils are not scared during any part of their school day. Nowadays, however, bullying is not limited to the classroom, playground or the school bus. In our constant digital lives, with the presence of social media, cyber bullying is too potent and ubiquitous a threat to be ignored, especially after Covid-19 led to long durations of distance learning, and there is a need for those added guard rails to be in place.

UAE authorities have factored this in and for years have been taking proactive steps, devising effective methods to stop at the source the serious harm that such behaviour can cause. One such example is an award for those who stand against bullying. The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood’s Bullying Prevention in Schools Award is a step in that positive direction. The SCMC’s anti-bullying programme has a vast scope – it runs in 64 schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Department of Education and Knowledge Abu Dhabi and Unicef.

Other emirates, too, have developed action plans. Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority encourages all schools to have "a child protection policy". The broad guidance is to raise any incidents or concerns immediately with the school and to contact the authority if the bullying doesn't stop.

As pupils this week re-familiarise themselves with time tables and the rigours of school, it is important that the education community renews its focus to build a culture that doesn't tolerate bullying and works towards the well-being of all pupils so that they grow into and enter the workforce as secure, well-rounded adults.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

THE BIO

Age: 33

Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill

Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.

Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?

Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in

Fireball

Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.

A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.

"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.

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Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Updated: August 26, 2024, 7:48 AM`