Confidential electronic forms to help tackle group bullying in schools

School principals have revealed the rollout of confidential electronic school safety forms that allow students to report "group bullying" and related behaviour, including ridicule, exclusion and other inappropriate conduct. The initiative is part of preventive measures aimed at protecting students during the 2026-2027 academic year. They said that the forms move incidents occurring within closed groups into an official school reporting system. The system documents incidents, assesses their severity and determines the need for urgent intervention. They said this helps speed up the review and response process, encourages affected students to come forward and limits abusive behaviour within the school environment. New digital channels Emarat Al Youm reviewed digital channels developed by school administrations to address inappropriate behaviour within student groups created for educational purposes. These include ridicule, exclusion, threats and blackmail. The aim is to encourage students to report bullying by turning screenshots into documented reports that can trigger prompt school intervention. The forms classify reports into six categories: bullying, threats or blackmail, assault or abuse, harassment or inappropriate behaviour, feeling unsafe, and any other incident requiring intervention. The system provides a confidential channel through which affected students can seek protection without confronting the bully or disclosing details to classmates. 'Group bullying' Dr Mohammed Nazif, director of Diwan Schools Group, said group bullying may begin with a mocking nickname or an image shared without permission. It can then escalate through comments, posts and repeated circulation into systematic psychological harm that subjects a student to repeated abuse in front of peers. He warned against dismissing such behaviour as harmless jokes. Interaction, reposting or remaining silent can reinforce the bully's sense of support, widen the circle of abuse and increase the psychological harm suffered by the target. He said the effectiveness of the new electronic forms should not be measured by the number of reports received. Instead, it should be judged by a school's ability to break the silence surrounding bullying and turn digital evidence into a swift and confidential response that stops abuse, protects victims, addresses the bully's behaviour and prevents retaliation or repeated targeting. Approved procedures Khalid Abdul Hamid, principal of Dubai Modern Education Ministerial Section, said schools can no longer separate behaviour inside school buildings from what occurs digitally among students when the effects extend into the educational environment or affect students' wellbeing, relationships and academic performance. He said abuse that takes place after school hours or within private groups can still have consequences within the school environment. He stressed that intervention does not mean monitoring students' accounts or violating their privacy. Rather, it involves receiving reports related to student safety, verifying them and addressing their impact in line with approved procedures. Fast-track response Sara Tarek, principal of a school, said the form shortens the path between students and those responsible for protecting them. It also prevents reports from becoming lost between teachers, administrators and social workers. She said cases involving extortion or inappropriate behaviour are moved directly to an urgent response track that takes into account the level of risk involved. She added that schools first focus on protecting the student and stopping the source of harm. This is followed by reviewing evidence, hearing from all parties and communicating with families before deciding on educational, psychological or behavioural interventions, or referring cases to the relevant authorities when necessary. Explaining the reporting process Kholoud Fahmy, principal of a school, said the success of the confidential channel depends on students understanding what happens after a report is submitted, who can access it and how their identity will be protected. She stressed the importance of explaining these procedures to students from the start of the academic year, rather than simply sending the reporting link to families. She said reports are confidential but not anonymous. Students must provide their name, class and section so the school can contact them, provide protection and verify the incident. She added that access to this information is limited to relevant personnel and that schools are committed to preventing the sharing of names or report details beyond professional necessity. Student training Teacher Adel Mahmoud said addressing group bullying begins with teaching students how to recognise digital behaviour. This includes distinguishing between mutual jokes and deliberate insults, and between temporary disagreements and repeated targeting. He said students should also be guided through real-life scenario