CBSE comes out with several suggestions on bullying in schools

School prospectus should clearly mention that bullying is strictly prohibited and any such act will not go unnoticed or unpunished but lead to expulsion or transfer to another school.
These are among the several suggestions made by CBSE to affiliated schools in a communication as events in recent past in schools across the country have triggered outrage and a sense of fear and apprehension among peers.
"It is recommended that there be a graded response system to address the cases of bullying and a clear cut process needs to be followed by schools as there might be cases that deserve utmost attention and stringent action," the communication said.

Besides, structures and procedures must also be established to provide accessible, confidential, secure and effective means of reporting incidents of bullying for victims and for those who are aware of it taking place.
An anti-bullying committee could also be constituted in schools comprising vice principal, a senior teacher, school doctor, counsellor and representatives of school management and legal representatives, CBSE suggested.
The message that "bullying is strictly prohibited inside school premises and no such act will go unnoticed or unpunished" may be clearly stated in the school prospectus and other guidelines circulated by the schools, the communication said.

Comprehensive guidelines may be developed for school management which include various actions and penalties taking into account the gravity of the misconduct.

The actions could include oral or written warning, suspension from attending classes or school for a specified period, imposition of fine and expulsion or rustication in rarest of rare cases.
"The option of transferring a student from one school to another may also be looked into," CBSE has suggested.
A "confident" reporting system may be established that allow students to report victimisation and strategies may be developed to reward students for positive behaviours, it suggested.