Cyberbullying, gangs driving violence in schools; authorities expand interventions

Violence in schools has reached alarming levels, with incidents recorded in 353 schools nationwide and Region Four accounting for the largest share at 41 per cent of reported cases.
Regions Six, Three, Five and Ten recorded the next highest levels of incidents. Speaking at a media briefing at the Office of the President on Friday, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali attributed the rise in school violence to growing gang activity, increased substance use and cyberbullying.
Among the most pressing concerns, the president said, is cyberbullying, with text messages and social media posts increasingly triggering confrontations that often spill beyond school compounds.
In response, the government is preparing to launch a public consultation on cyberbullying and social media following mounting complaints from teachers and parents about the impact on students.
At the operational level, authorities are strengthening coordination among agencies while expanding counselling services and introducing a standardised referral system. A scholars programme targeting at-risk youth is also being rolled out.
Additional security measures are being introduced at high-risk schools, including the installation of security cameras and bag scanners, while work is ongoing to establish a confidential student reporting system.
Looking ahead, the government is also examining how artificial intelligence could support early intervention efforts by identifying behavioural trends and patterns.
“AI is important in helping us to address predictable behaviour and behavioural patterns so we can be more proactive, have greater parental guidance and community involvement in children’s lives with the involvement of the church, the mosque, the temples and reforming our policies,” the president told reporters during the news conference on Friday.
Ali also highlighted the declining number of male teachers in the education system as a contributing challenge and called for stronger support structures for female teachers, who make up the majority of the workforce. (DPI)