Alarm in Bogota: Bullying cases increase 674% among adolescents in three years

School bullying in the country continues to increase. Figures from the Ministry of Education reveal that in the Colombian capital the situation is especially critical. This was warned by Clara Lucía Sandoval, city councilor, who highlighted the alarming nature of the situation.

Between 2020 and 2023, cases of bullying among adolescents aged 12 to 17 grew by 674% in the Colombian capital, according to figures from the Secretariat. This worrying increase not only affects adolescents, but also young adults, whose cases increased 616%, and children, with an increase of 566%.

The reports show that the most common forms of harassment include generalized harassment, which accounts for 78.34% of reported cases. This is followed by sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination (17.56%), ethnic-racial discrimination (3.18%), and xenophobia (0.92%). These figures demonstrate the variety of manifestations of bullying, affecting different groups of students.

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Bullying in Bogota does not let up

The Secretary of Education revealed that in 2023 school bullying in Bogota increased considerably. According to the data collected, the localities of Ciudad Bolívar, Engativá, Kennedy and Suba concentrated the highest percentages of reported cases, highlighting the dispersion of the problem throughout the city.

The reports show that bullying is not only limited to psychological and physical violence in the classroom, but also extends to social networks and school routes, with serious consequences for the mental health and academic performance of young people.

In some cases, this situation has led to school dropouts, poor academic performance and self-injurious behavior or even suicide. All serious consequences of a problem that can be mitigated with district support strategies, according to Andrés Barrios, councilman of the capital.

Barrios has repeatedly denounced the weaknesses of the district’s educational system, since, among other things, the security of the facilities is taken for granted. The councilman denounced that, of the 235 security cameras installed in schools with external viewing, only 86 are operational. This situation increases the risk for young people, who can be victims of various crimes both in the vicinity and inside the schools.

In addition to these security gaps in the infrastructure, there is a lack of administrative support in situations of bullying and little regulation and monitoring of cases of this nature.

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The role of schools in the fight against school bullying

The role of educational institutions is undoubtedly key to reduce bullying in Colombia. It is the duty of educational institutions to ensure the welfare and safety of students, so that in cases of bullying, the institution must provide support and monitoring. This was declared by the Constitutional Court after its ruling in a bullying case was made public.

The Constitutional Court found inconsistencies in the management of the educational institution in the case of bullying of a teenager who suffered harassment by classmates. The Court found serious deficiencies in the response of the educational institution and in the protection mechanisms designed to protect the victim of bullying.

This case exposes the need to review and improve school coexistence manuals, as well as to implement more robust mechanisms to identify and address cases of bullying. The Court also ordered the Ministry of Education to review and strengthen the public policy of prevention and attention to school violence, to ensure that all institutions have effective tools to handle these situations.

The impact of this decision extends beyond the particular case, as it highlights the responsibility of educational institutions in creating safe and respectful environments. It also underscores the importance of early and appropriate intervention to prevent bullying and protect the physical and emotional well-being of all students.

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