Nilesh Cabral recently raised a concern in the Goa Legislative Assembly regarding the alarming absence of standard anti-bullying policies in nearly 23% of schools across the state. Highlighting the critical importance of safeguarding students' mental well-being, he urged the government to develop and implement clear guidelines aimed at creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. Cabral emphasized the need for structured counseling support to address children’s psychological safety and emotional health within school premises.
In response, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant assured the Assembly that the Education Department would promptly issue necessary instructions directing all schools to adopt standardized anti-bullying policies. Also further committed to strengthening the psychological support system in schools by encouraging school authorities to provide counseling and foster a nurturing atmosphere for students to feel safe and secure.
The concern follows findings from the NCERT’s ‘Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024’ survey, which revealed that despite adequate physical infrastructure in most Goa schools, a significant portion remains without anti-bullying frameworks. The survey also showed distressing statistics: 37% of students reported being teased by peers, 36% faced mockery, 29% were physically hit or pushed, and 25% experienced threats from classmates. Such incidents, according to the survey, not only harm the emotional well-being of students but also negatively impact their academic success and overall development.