‘Talk to me’ - Azerbaijani Ministry of Education launches campaign against bullying

The Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan has relesaed a video about bullying in schools and launched a campaign under the hashtag # MənimləDanış [Aze. Talk to me]. The main message of the video: teachers and parents should pay more attention to children.

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On social media, the video was perceived ambiguously – some admire and thank the ministry, while others accused the ministry of shirking their responsibilities onto the shoulders of parents.

In April 2019, in Baku, fourteen-year-old Elina Gadzhieva threw herself out of a school window because other students constantly harassed her, and the school administration turned a blind eye to this.

Elina died in the hospital a few days later.

School principals are now on trial on charges of negligence and endangerment – an ambulance was not immediately called for the girl. The prosecutor’s office is demanding just two and a half years in prison.

Official information

The Ministry of Education says that the campaign’s goal is to “draw the attention of parents, school leaders and the general public to this issue.”

The ministry recalls that in May of this year, the “Action Plan for additional measures to create a favorable learning and development environment in educational institutions” was approved.  

Among other things, this plan provides for improving relations between the school and the family and protecting students from any physical and psychological violence.

 A hotline has also appeared: by calling 146-2, you can complain to the ministry about cases of bullying and other problems of this kind.

Reaction

Social media users are arguing who is more responsible for the safety and psychological health of children: parents or the school and the ministry, and whether it is possible to solve the problem of bullying with clips and hashtags.

Some comments:

“Great campaign! Thanks!”

“The ministry wants to tell us the following: ‘raise your offspring yourself.’ And they have more important things to do there.  For example, to write textbooks full of mistakes.”

“No need to blame everything on the ministry.  Parents must admit to themselves: yes, the school is responsible for the child while he is at school, but the family is the main environment for our children”

“Not only parents should keep an eye on the children.  All of us must do this. Only then can society become healthier.”