Additional anti-bullying training for parents

The protection of children from bullying — in and out of school — may be helped by another 100 training sessions for parents.

The additional courses being run by the two national parents’ councils should also help families better deal with schools if situations related to bullying arise with their schools.

They are being funded by the Department of Education, which is giving an additional €55,000 for the anti-bullying parent training programme that has seen thousands of people attend more than 100 sessions last year.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said she has had contact from many parents since she got the job two months ago who want to help their children deal with cyberbullying.

“Everyone in the wider community has an important role to play in tackling all forms of bullying and in teaching children how to manage relationships, be resilient and have empathy for others,” she said.

However, said Ms O’Sullivan, bullying is not a problem schools can or should be left to tackle alone. Her predecessor Ruairi Quinn introduced new requirements last year for schools to have specific policies dealing with the issue, which should include their involvement in bullying that happens outside school but can have a big impact on pupils.

Áine Lynch, chief executive of the National Parents’ Council-Primary, said the sessions so far have been well attended. Almost 3,300 people took part in 105 sessions last year organised by NPC-P and National Parents’ Council-Post Primary, thanks to €60,000 in department funding.

The latest investment will bring the spend on the initiative this year to €115,000, which will mean around 200 sessions being delivered in 2014. Ms Lynch said it ensures all parents of Irish schoolchildren have an opportunity to attend and will help them play their part in keeping their school a happier place for their child.

“It is important that parents are supported to work with their child and the school in managing bullying situations,” she said.

Ms O’Sullivan said the training will also help parents who are unsure how to discuss the issue with their children when it is not a problem, particularly in an age-appropriate way for younger pupils.

“It’s also important that they know how to talk to their children if something does happen to them, that they listen to them and let them be part of the solution,” said Ms O’Sullivan. “And also that children do not hold back from telling if they are cyber-bullied out of fear of having a computer or phone taken from them.”

NPC-PP president Don Myers said the funding is an endorsement and a commitment by the minister to help parents deal with such a serious issue in modern society.