A young boy stepped out of the school gate, moving slowly, his head down and one hand desperately covering part of his face. His mother’s heart sank. As he got closer, she could finally see it—an ugly, swollen bruise around his eye, red and throbbing with pain. He looked up at her briefly, his eyes filled with mix of fear and embarrassment, before quickly looking away. She froze. What had they done to him? The pol-ished reputation of the prestigious institution felt like a cruel illusion now, where her son’s safety was guaranteed anymore.
The bully, as it turned out, was no ordinary student. He was the son of someone with deep connections, a high profile figure whose influence seemed to extend far beyond the school walls. When the boy’s (named Ahmed) mother stormed into the headmistress’s office, demanding an-swers, she expected swift justice. But what she got was a dismissive nod and a mere warning letter to the bully, nothing more. No suspension, no real consequences. Just a pat on the back for a privileged child. Mean-while, Ahmed, the one who had suffered, was left feeling unsafe, his par-ents humiliated by the lack of action. They had no choice but to pull him out of the school. Sadly, this is becoming all too familiar—where the well connected get a free pass, and those without influence are left picking up the pieces, invisible in the eyes of those who should protect them.
Another parent, who is a single mother, shared with me her experience. Her daughter, who used to love her school and was always an eager stu-dent, but lately her mood has drastically changed as she dreads school. After many attempts she finally revealed the reason for the sudden change. Her former friends had been making fun of her because her father had left them. Finally she too had to change the school.
According to US National Institute of Health bullying has now become a significant health issue rather than just a disciplinary problem, as it dam-ages self esteem and has lasting negative effect on both victims and the bullies.
In current atmosphere, where we already witness daily news of violence, unchecked childhood bullying can evolve into serious acts of aggression in adulthood, turning society into a breeding ground for jungle’s law.
can train our children to stay safe by open communication to create an environment where children feel safe sharing their experi-ences.Teaching children to be confident and assertive, equips them to stand up to bullies. They should also learn when to walk away or seek help from a trusted adult if a situation becomes too intensive.We should instill the value of kindness in our children. Teaching them to treat every-one equally, regardless of their background, is essential in preventing bul-lying behaviour.
However, schools hold a crucial responsibility in addressing bullying. They must create safe environment where all students feel safe and pro-tected, implementing policies to prevent and combat bullying at every level. Regular workshops and awareness campaigns can educate everyone about the impact of bullying and encourage empathy.
Combating bullying requires collective effort from both parents and schools. By fostering empathy, enforcing accountability and addressing the issue head-on, we can create an environment where every child feels safe, respected and valued. The road to a compassionate and inclusive so-ciety starts with how we guide our children today.The writer is contributing
columnist, based in Islaambad.
