Safe schools in Chernihiv region through the implementation of restorative practices

On December 16, 2020, a regional educational forum “Safety at School through the Implementation of Restorative Practices” was held in Chernihiv for representatives of educational institutions of the Chernihiv region.

The event was attended by educators and representatives of school administrations, who had the opportunity to learn about the experience of implementing projects and initiatives in the field of ensuring a safe school and youth environment.

According to the head of programs of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Kateryna Dankova

, the Chernihiv region already has positive experience in implementing School Understanding Services as one of the restorative practices of the educational process, which are used in the prevention of adolescent aggression and antisocial behavior among young people.

Such School Understanding Services (SHS) consist of trained student mediators who help their peers resolve conflict situations peacefully.

Since 2018, on the initiative and expert support of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, 8 educational institutions of the city of Chernihiv and 5 schools of the region have already been practicing restorative practices.

One of the speakers of the Forum, Deputy Director for Educational Work

Natalia Kolotylo

shared the experience of the functioning of the created service of understanding and application of restorative approaches in the educational process at Gymnasium No. 31 of the humanitarian and aesthetic profile (Chernihiv).

“Personally, I often apply the acquired knowledge and skills in mediation and the “circle” technique in my work as a class teacher. Applying the “peer-to-peer” principle, children begin to open up, which contributes to building trusting relationships. In addition to the significant impact of the use of restorative practices on ensuring a safe environment at school, I want to note the personal development of communication skills in our student mediators. The knowledge gained helps them in their studies, communication with their peers and safely in their future choice of profession,” said Ms. Natalia.

In turn, the deputy director for educational work of the Ripkynsk comprehensive school of I-III levels No. 2

Maryna Khobotnya

, spoke about the experience of their school’s participation in the implementation of the “Peaceful School” model, which has the status of an educational experiment of the all-Ukrainian level and was initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

“Thanks to participation in this project, in addition to the creation of the School Understanding Service, our teachers were trained in the application of restorative practices in the educational process. We received practical tools to include all participants in the educational process in the development of a system of constructive communication and interaction, a system of effective conflict resolution, and the prevention of bullying, aggression, and violent behavior in the educational institution,” emphasized Maryna Khobotnya.

At the end of the event, Kateryna Dankova emphasized further assistance to interested schools in the Chernihiv region in implementing restorative practices and directly creating School Understanding Services in their educational institutions.

The project “Combating Hate-Induced Violence and Hate Speech in School and Youth Environments in the Chernihiv Region” is being implemented with the support of the representative office of an international human rights organization