School bullies to get their comeuppance

Amid the recent spike in juvenile violence and school bullying, the government is seeking to combat the phenomenon with an immediate plan of action that involves among others the tightening of penalties, such as the reintroduction of the five-day suspension and easier expulsion from school.

The plan will engage all the relevant ministries, with the onus on that of Education, as schools are where most incidents of violence by minors are recorded. 

More specifically, as March 6 has been established by the Education Ministry as the National Day against School Violence and Bullying, the plan is scheduled for implementation later in the month. It also provides for the enforcement of measures included in a law passed in spring 2023 but not yet implemented.

The relevant data is telling regarding the spike in incidents that have over occurred over two decades. A 2000...