A government policy which sets out how all schools in the Cayman Islands must tackle bullying has been published.
It will work alongside the Education Act, Education Regulations, 2017, and Anti-Bullying (Schools) Regulations 2022 to prevent, monitor and tackle student-on-student bullying.
The Ministry of Education’s policy together with the law and regulations make it a legal requirement for government, assisted and private schools to have their own anti-bullying policy in place.
This must include the anti-bullying ethos, roles and responsibilities of the school, students and parents, along with the definition of bullying and protocols for dealing with incidents.
It should also have evidence-based educational practices, measures to reduce bullying, and procedures for consultation, monitoring and evaluating the policy.
The school’s policy must be developed collaboratively in partnership with key stakeholders and be approved by the relevant authorities before implementation.
‘Safe, nurturing, equitable’
The ministry, in its introduction to the National Anti-Bullying (Schools) Policy, said it is committed to protecting students from repeated physical harm or psychological distress.
They are entitled to a “safe, nurturing, equitable, bullying-free school experience”, it said.
The education ministry added it will work to ensure every incident of bullying is investigated and action taken to support both the perpetrator and target to eliminate such behaviour.
It encourages students to immediately report to the school leader or a member of the school staff any act of bullying or retaliation they have witnessed.
Meanwhile school staff have a ‘duty of care’ towards students and must also report any act of bullying or retaliation.
A positive climate
In 2020 the Cayman Islands Law Reform Commission published a report entitled, ‘Bullying: Legislation, Policy or Both’.
It said most children are exposed to some form of bullying in schools due to the unequal balance of power and influence that is so common in youth relationships and peer groups.
“Students need school to be a positive climate where they feel safe,” the report continued.
“This reduces their own stress and potential aggression, allowing them to focus on the learning necessary for them to be successful in their lives.”
The commission concluded that it supported an approach that consists of both legislation and policy.
The Anti-Bullying (Schools) Regulations 2022 came into effect last year, while the National Anti-Bullying (Schools) Policy was approved in May and published on 16 June.
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