How to handle school violence in Vietnam?

What behaviors are considered school violence according to the law in Vietnam?

According to Article 2 of Decree 80/2017/ND-CP:

Terminology Explanation

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. The educational environment includes all conditions, both material and spiritual, that affect the activities of education, learning, training, and development of learners.

2. A safe educational environment is one in which learners are protected and not harmed physically or mentally.

3. A healthy educational environment is one without social evils and violence; where learners, administrators, teachers, and staff practice a healthy lifestyle and demonstrate cultural behavior.

4. A friendly educational environment is one where learners are respected, treated fairly, equally, and compassionately; where democracy is promoted and conditions are created for learners to develop their qualities and abilities.

5. School violence is the act of tormenting, mistreating, beating; harming the body and health; insulting, offending the dignity and honor; isolating, expelling, and other deliberate acts that physically or mentally harm learners within educational institutions or independent classes.

The behaviors that occur within educational institutions or independent classes considered school violence include:

- Acts of tormenting, mistreating, and beating;

- Acts of harming the body and health;

- Acts of insulting, offending the dignity and honor;

- Acts of isolating and expelling;

- Other deliberate acts causing physical and mental harm to learners.

How to handle school violence in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

How to handle school violence in Vietnam?

Based on Article 9 of Circular 38/2019/TT-BLD-TBXH, handling school violence is regulated as follows:

- Take immediate measures to isolate and control the subjects causing school violence, preventing them from continuing to cause unwanted consequences.

- Promptly contact and report to the competent authorities to handle the case according to regulations. If the situation exceeds the ability of the vocational educational institution, promptly notify the local government or functional authorities for coordinated handling according to the law.

- Conduct a preliminary assessment of the victim’s damage. Immediately provide assistance and medical care to the victim. Monitor, evaluate, and take practical measures to ensure the safety of the victim over time.

- Promptly notify the victim’s family for coordinated handling.

What are the regulations for measures to prevent and combat school violence in Vietnam?

According to Article 6 of Decree 80/2017/ND-CP, measures to prevent school violence are prescribed as follows:

(1) Measures to Prevent School Violence:

- Propaganda and dissemination to raise awareness among learners, administrators, teachers, staff within educational institutions, learners' families, and the community about the dangers and consequences of school violence; about the responsibility to detect, report, and denounce acts of school violence; to prevent and promptly intervene in acts of school violence according to one’s ability;

- Educate and equip with knowledge and skills on preventing student abuse; preventing school violence; preventing child violence in the online environment for learners, administrators, teachers, staff of educational institutions, and learners' families; educate and counsel learners on self-protection knowledge and skills;

- Publicize the plan to prevent school violence and channels to receive information and reports about school violence;

- Organize inspections, supervision, collection, and handling of information related to school violence;

- Implement positive, non-violent education methods towards learners.

(2) Measures to Support Learners at Risk of School Violence:

- Promptly detect learners having aggressive behaviors, at risk of causing school violence, and learners at risk of being subjected to school violence;

- Assess the level of risk and the form of violence that may occur to have specific preventive and supporting measures;

- Advise and counsel learners at risk of violence and those causing violence to prevent and eliminate the risk of violence.

(3) Intervention Measures When School Violence Occurs:

- Conduct a preliminary assessment of the learner's damage and determine the current condition of the learner;

- Immediately implement assistance, medical care, and counseling measures for learners affected by violence; monitor and evaluate the safety of those subjected to violence;

- Promptly notify the learner’s family for coordinated handling; if the case exceeds the competence of the educational institution, promptly notify the police, People's Committee of the commune, ward, or commune-level town, and related agencies for coordinated handling according to the law.