One in five pupils in Cyprus is a victim of school bullying, according to findings from a study conducted by the Pedagogical Institute in collaboration with the University of Cyprus.
The research which has been ongoing over the past few years highlights a pervasive issue affecting the country’s educational institutions.
Simultaneously, there have been more than 500 juvenile delinquency cases (including bullying) involving minors aged 14 to 18. According to criminologist and police superintendent, Kyriaki Lambrianidou, a total of 508 such cases have been recorded. She stressed that this number is on par with last year’s figures, indicating a consistent trend.
However, the Ministry of Education has reported only 15 cases of school bullying recorded across Cyprus annually. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of official data and the extent to which bullying is being addressed within the educational system.
The statistics were presented during a House Education Committee meeting, which aimed to assess the scope of the school bullying problem and the effectiveness of current measures in place.
