At a time when we all begin to have more sensitivity towards bullying and violence among students, it seems that we should take the positive figures cautiously in this regard. However, we cannot help but rejoice when the plans, programs and projects implemented achieve part of their objectives.
The Plan for the Prevention of Violence and Promotion of Coexistence in the Centers (PREVI) of the Generalitat has achieved that cases of very serious school violence decrease by 12.8% in the last four years, according to data from the 2011 / 12 published by the Observatory for School Coexistence.
The data of the Observatory for School Coexistence published at the end of the 2011-12 academic year reveal that 0.3% of the total number of schoolchildren in the Community observes, suffers or infringes violence in the classroom
This significant decrease, which has been constant in the last four years, shows, translates into a 5.8% reduction in violence in the last four years. And this is a fact that in the opinion of the Minister of Education of the Generalitat Valenciana, is due to the efforts of the entire educational community.
What is the PREVI?
The PREVI Plan, arises as a result of the work carried out by the Coexistence Observatory and was conceived by the Generalitat to 'respond to the needs of coexistence problems, detected by the educational community itself'.
Both initiatives constitute a national reference in the fight against school violence and are a role model for many other autonomous communities
This plan establishes three types of prevention measures aimed at the education system, the population at risk and society. It also includes recommendations that help families to intervene from their field and, something very important, to collaborate with schools and their teachers
On the other hand, the PREVI It aims to work on the same level with teachers to provide them with tools and resources to help them work within their classrooms and in their centers, not only in their subjects, but also in the management of classroom relationships.
Is this measure enough?
I have been reviewing the PREVI plan, and also a priori I trust those who have developed it, I think it is quite complete and its articulation is not complicated. But nevertheless real involvement by all members of the educational community is necessary, and a greater awareness of the problem, since not all teachers have the same attitude, not all parents are able to recognize a problem and ask for help to solve it.
It is curious but despite having been on the Board of Directors of the AMPA of the school of my children, and collaborating in joint actions at the provincial level, I did not know this plan (perhaps hearsay). And I am glad to have discovered it and to know that it exists, because the tools are put at our disposal for us to use if necessary.
One of the measures aimed at the education system is the development of a coexistence plan for each school. 'Through the coexistence plans all the members of a center can be involved in a coexistence project with common goals and objectives, containing answers based on their own reality'.
The decline in violence in numbers
Education recorded, during the past year, a total of 1,521 altercations compared to 1,611 in the 2008-09 academic year. Cases of group violence also declined last year, significantly reducing the number of people involved in the conflicts.
In 80% of the cases, witnesses who witnessed it tried to mediate the situation. The most common reaction was to cut the situation (703 incidents) or in the case of a student, inform an adult (376 incidents).
The observatory that collects the data was created by the Consell as a consultative instrument that the administration puts at the service of the educational community.
It is formed by a committee of experts, excellent professionals from the educational world and renowned specialists in this field
The mission of the observatory is to know, analyze and prevent the problems of coexistence of the centers, contribute to the improvement of the school climate and make the educational community feel safe and respected.
In front of all the cuts in education that this Community is suffering (disappearance of aid to buy books, elimination of school bus lines, etc.), the news of the proper functioning of a Plan should give us reasons for optimism. Hopefully it will remain with the necessary resources for its operation.
