Bullying won’t stop on its own: How teachers in Kyrgyzstan are changing their approach to teenagers
In school age, children face serious internal and external changes. Against this background, conflicts often arise, and bullying can go into the shadows — adults either identify it too late or do not notice it at all.
Director of secondary school No. 30 named after A. Aliev (Osh) Sulaimanova Nuskaiym Amanbaevna shares why traditional preventive measures are no longer enough. To truly protect teenagers, educators need new methodologies, instructions, and, most importantly, the right approach to communication.
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A four-day intensive training-of-trainers on implementing the Methodological Guidelines for Creating a Safe Educational Environment for teachers and social educators concluded in Bishkek.
The initiative was conducted by the branch of the International NGO Good Neighbors in the Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The trainers who led the course emphasized the critical importance of fostering a protected atmosphere in educational institutions:
“Without safety, neither quality education nor healthy child development is possible. It is essential not only to notice physical threats in time, but also to detect violence and bullying. Children must feel protected both physically and psychologically — in schools as well as in kindergartens!”
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Altynbek Erkimbekov, Head of the Department of Upbringing and Extracurricular Education at the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, summarized the outcomes of the four-day Training of Trainers on the "Safe Educational Environment" Methodological Guide.
In his interview, Altynbek Erkimbekov emphasized that creating a protected school atmosphere requires the combined efforts of the government, international organizations, and the pedagogical community.
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A four-day intensive Training of Trainers was held in Bishkek, dedicated to implementing the Methodological Guide on Ensuring a Safe Educational Environment for teachers and social workers.
The event was organized under the "Safe Educational Environment" project by Good Neighbors in the Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic. The official opening was attended by Altynbek Erkimbekov, Head of the Department of Upbringing and Additional Education at the Ministry of Education.
The primary goal of the initiative is to promote the creation of a safe, violence-free school environment for children and adolescents. Over the course of four days, participants mastered key aspects of adult learning, examined response algorithms for various types of violence and bullying (including cyberbullying), studied the trauma-informed approach, legal frameworks for child protection, and effective strategies for engaging with families and school staff.
Strengthening the capacity of teachers and social workers is a crucial step by Good Neighbors toward implementing unified child protection standards, expanding access to a supportive school atmosphere, and shaping a psychologically healthy future for the younger generation.
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