Request for a professional approach to addressing bullying in Suriname

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In Suriname, concerned residents called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture to more effectively address bullying through tough sanctions.

The call follows a tragic incident in which a teenage girl committed suicide after being harassed because of her skin color and weight.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time a young person in Suriname has taken their own life due to bullying. Last year, a 14-year-old girl took her own life after becoming a victim of bullying.

This year, a 17-year-old girl committed the same thing under similar circumstances. Both cases have been confirmed by the victims’ parents, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

The frequency and severity of these serious incidents clearly demonstrate that this is a pressing and alarming problem facing the country.

The call for action has come not only from the community but also, more recently, parents have expressed their frustration that teachers and principals often do little or nothing to address the problem.

They indicated that effective intervention and support for victims was lacking.

In addition to appealing to the Ministry of Education, people also called on parents to teach their children to be more confident.

By strengthening young people’s self-image and resilience, they hope to reduce the harmful effects of bullying.

GFC News hears from a child psychologist that confident children are better able to shrug off mean comments and cope with social pressure.

In order to effectively address this problem, various sanctions are also recommended. For example, depending on the severity of the bullying behavior, the perpetrator may be temporarily suspended or permanently expelled from school.

Additionally, research shows that mandatory counseling for both perpetrators and victims can help address underlying issues and promote recovery.

Critics argue that schools that repeatedly fail to take appropriate action to combat bullying should be subject to financial fines.

They argue that schools should be required to report all incidents of bullying to the Ministry of Education so that a national database can be created and effective measures can be monitored and adapted.

It is very important that the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture takes this call seriously and works with schools, parents and experts to develop an effective strategy.