China issues anti-bullying package solution

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China's Ministry of Education, together with 10 other authorities, issued a new package on Wednesday to address increased bullying in primary and middle schools, China News reported.

The package defines bullying as an incident that occurs between students on or off campus, when the side with imbalanced stronger power singly or repeatedly assaults, insults, or provocates the other side through bodily contact, verbal language or words on the Internet with a hostile intent, resulting in physical, mental or financial harm.

A senior member of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, Yao Jianlong, told news outlet The Paper that, unlike the internationally accepted definition which describes “bullying” as a repeated behavior, it is crucial that China recognizes that bullying can be restricted to single incidents.

In addition, the solution stresses on distinguishing between bullying and rough-and-tumble play between students.

Authorities demand schools enforce the solution with improved efficiency. When bullying incidents are found, schools should conduct an emergency response plan and begin a timely investigation according to standard procedure.

The bullying governance commissions in every school should complete the investigation within 10 days and give their decision and measure based on relevant regulations.

People who doubt the decision may lodge an appeal. The reconsideration process should be then completed in 15 days.

Besides, punitive measures are clarified by the solution with differentiation based on the severity of the case. According to the regulations, schools should criticize bullies in a constructive way for common cases. But for the ones who remain a problem despite repeated admonition, authorities can transfer them to the work-study schools for juvenile delinquents.

Meanwhile, preventive measures have also been brought into use, such as school video monitoring systems and emergency alert systems.