elmundo.es
Bilbao School Bullying Lawsuit
A Bilbao school was sued and found liable for failing to properly address bullying against a 5-year-old girl. The case highlights the challenges of addressing bullying in young children and the increased reporting of such incidents.
Spanish
Spain
Human Rights ViolationsHealthGender IssuesEducationLawsuitChildrenSchoolBullying
Hijas De La Caridad SchoolBasque Department Of EducationBilbao Court
Begoña PedrosaEsther Valbuena
- What was the outcome of the lawsuit against the school?
- The court found the school liable for failing to protect the child from bullying and ordered them to pay \u20ac40,000 in compensation. The school has appealed the decision. The five-year-old girl experienced months of physical and sexual aggression from a classmate.
- How has the number of reported bullying cases changed over time?
- The number of bullying cases reported has increased significantly in recent years. In the 2008-2009 school year, there were 75 cases, while in 2022-2023, there were 1,543 cases. The increase is partly due to increased awareness and reporting of bullying behaviors.
- When was the anti-bullying protocol activated at the Hijas de la Caridad school in Bilbao?
- The anti-bullying protocol at Hijas de la Caridad school in Bilbao was activated in March 2023, following a request from the family of the victim. The school claims that the Education Inspectorate was aware of the situation from the start, but the Department of Education says that their services only acted after the parents' formal complaint six months into the school year.
- How many bullying cases were investigated and confirmed by the Department of Education in the 2022-2023 school year?
- In the 2022-2023 school year, the Basque Department of Education investigated approximately 1,500 bullying cases and confirmed 218 cases. Nearly half involved children aged 12-13. Verbal aggression was the most common form of bullying, followed by social exclusion and physical aggression.
- Under what circumstances is the school required to activate the anti-bullying protocol, according to the Basque Government's guidelines?
- The Basque Government's guideline states that the school's administration is obligated to activate the protocol only upon a police or court report, a complaint to the Ombudsman, or a request from the Education Inspectorate. Less severe cases, where teacher intervention resolves the issue, may not necessitate full protocol activation.