On the occasion of the anti-school-bullying day on Thursday 5 November, Education Minister Valérie Glatigny highlights the resources deployed in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to prevent (cyber)bullying and support pupils. A priority: that every child can go to school without fear.
Repeated taunts, humiliation, exclusion or hurtful messages in the playground or on social media: bullying can have a lasting effect on a pupil's confidence, health and learning. To tackle this, schools must be able to identify situations, intervene and ensure follow-up.
Knowing who to talk to and how to react
Every school must have a procedure for reporting and handling bullying, including when it continues online. It must specify who to contact, the steps to follow and the response times.
This procedure must be explained to pupils and regularly communicated to parents. This way, every family knows who to turn to and how their report will be followed up.
Trained and supported teams
To support schools over the long term, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is mobilising €8 million over four years. Currently, 235 schools are taking part in the framework programme to combat bullying and improve the school climate.
Behind this name lies four years of support from specialised professionals: training teams, organising how bullying situations are handled, and prevention activities with pupils. A new wave is planned for September 2027, aiming to bring in 200 additional schools. The goal is for these schools to eventually become autonomous in managing the school climate.
All schools can also access a toolbox on the e-classe platform, bringing together practical sheets, guides and resources to recognise and address bullying.
Teaching bystanders to react too
During her visit to the Lauzelle municipal school (Louvain-La-Neuve) on 3 November, Valérie Glatigny saw the work of the teams around KiVa. This Finnish programme teaches pupils to recognise bullying, support a targeted classmate and alert an adult, notably by developing empathy in children.
Its principle: bystanders can help stop the abuse by refusing to pass on taunts and by raising the alarm. Responsibility for intervening remains with adults. KiVa is now rolled out in 52 primary schools in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Its equivalent, Better Together, is also deployed in secondary schools.
Don't stay alone
A pupil who is a victim or witness can turn to a trusted adult, a point of contact at school or the PMS centre. Links with mental health professionals, such as first-line psychologists, are also being strengthened to facilitate access to appropriate support.
Talking about bullying is a first step. Taking that word seriously and giving it concrete follow-up is a collective responsibility.
Do you or your child need to talk about it? Two helplines are also available: Écoute École on 0800 95 580 and 103, the helpline for children and young people.