Warning sign to Maldivian Educational Policy Makers! :: Dhivehi Observer

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Warning sign to Maldivian Educational Policy Makers!

By Ibrahim Huzam, 11 May 2005

Harris and Klebold (two boys involved in shooting rampage) caught on the high school's security cameras in the cafeteria. April 20, 1999.

The recent death of the 13 year old 8^th grader of Majeedhiya School was in all news headlines in the country. This might be the first suicide case reported in Maldives which is related to direct bullying. It is noticeable that Maldivian people are not aware enough of bullying and its unexpected and harmful outcomes. Bullying is common in almost everywhere in the world and serious attention has been given to eradicate it globally. For example, in 1990s a vast number of school shootings happened in USA. The very notorious Columbine High School massacre in 1999 was the most horrible school tragedy in the US history. Two teenage students brought guns to the class, killed 12 other students and their teacher before committing suicide. The important thing is that these students behind the shootings claimed that they were victims of bullies and they resorted to violence only after the school administration repeatedly failed to intervene. Bullying is a culture deeply rooted in most Maldivian schools. According to a related article published on DO by Mariyam Mohamed bullying is higher in Majeedhiya School compared to other schools. According to Haveeru daily the parents of the Bully claim that it's not fair to put the blame only on their child. Haveeru also reported that the school and Ministry of Education haven't said anything regarding this issue.

http://www.haveeru.com.mv/?page=details&cat=urwbwK&id=25020 The question is who really has to take the blame? And who are responsible?

Before going further let us look at the meaning of bully, bullying, where and how children and adults bully others. A bully is a person who threatens others. This may be through verbal harassment, physical assaults, or forcing someone to act or do something by threatening. Bullying is a word which describes the threatening and disturbing behaviour shown by an older, stronger and more socially powerful child, upon a weaker child. More broadly speaking a bully repeatedly acts or says things to have power over another person. Bullying not only occur at schools, but also in colleges, universities, families, work place, by neighbours and also between countries. In schools some students bully others by calling them names, talking filthy and nasty things about them, damaging their school bag, stationeries and other items, hitting or kicking them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable and scared, forcing them to bring money, or making them do things they really don't want to do. In offices this happens when the victim gets threats of job loss and disciplinary action for untold and unspecific reasons and constant negative criticism for unspecified allegations. Bullying is also includes when the victim is degraded or dishonoured (dha'h kollun) with no credible reasons. This is very common and popular form of bullying seen among Maldivian youngsters.

People and students bully others for several reasons. Some do it as a way to show their power. Some use it as a way to take control of others and to be in charge. Some do so to make others afraid of them. Some bully to get some benefits from the person they are bullying by exposing fear. Others who bully may be jealous of the person they are bulling. Some bully, because they feel a sense of enjoyment and pleasure by hurting and treating others badly. You may also be bullied because of the way you look, such as skin color and your dress code. Usually these people who bully others do not necessarily realize how badly they are hurting others and its severe effects and consequences. Students and individuals who bully others are ones who usually experience or have experienced violent, harsh and a problematic life, mostly at home. Many people think bullying is not a serious problem, but the truth is very far from what they perceive. Victims of bullying tend to be unhappier, sadder and feel worse about their selves compared to others. Many studies and researches carried out in various schools from primary to high schools around the world have proven that many bully victims are subjected to feelings of committing suicide! Also fact is that many students who have committed suicide were victims of bullying. Usually these students get into violent and suicidal behavior if the bullying continues for a long time without a solution. This happens usually when parents and school authorities do not stop or intervene as mentioned in the incident of Columbine High School massacre at the outset of this article.

As a result of consequent sad events related to bullying that are happening, many schools in the world today take bullying as a very serious issue. Children who bully others and the victims are tracked and monitored. Various new materials aimed at stop bullying are included in the curriculum. These measures tell us that bullying is really a wrong behavior. Despite the wide bullying culture in Maldivian schools and also in the Maldivian community, nothing tangible has been done to remove it. Looking back to Majeedhiyaa Suicide case, and in relevant to the news reported on Haveeru Daily, it is obvious that nothing has been done by the authorities and management of the most well known school in the nation, to eradicate this psychologically unsafe behavior from their school. This suicide case might be a signal to our educational policy makers to introduce new rules and materials to our schools and its curriculums respectively.

Reference: www.haveeru.com.mv , www.wikipedia.org