Another 5 educational institutions in Chernihiv region joined the implementation of school mediation

During March 2021, students and teachers of schools in the cities of Bakhmach and Ichnya, Chernihiv region, received training in basic mediation skills and were given the opportunity to influence the formation of a safe school environment through the creation of School Understanding Services.

Despite quarantine restrictions, from now on, full-fledged School Understanding Services (SHS) will operate on the basis of the Bakhmach Gymnasium, Bakhmach Secondary School No. 1, Bakhmach Secondary School No. 5, Ichnya Gymnasium named after Vasylchenko, Ichnya Secondary School No. 4.

According to the administration of educational institutions, such trainings should become good practice in the educational process. Thanks to the model of engaged learning, participants constantly work in groups, express their opinions, participate in discussions and deliberations, and then present their work.

Mediator and expert of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Kateryna Dankova

revealed the issues of implementing school mediation in current conditions:

“In the modern world, more and more attention is paid to the emotional state of a person. It is necessary to work with manifestations of psychological immaturity and the establishment of moral and value qualities from childhood. Currently, we only see an increase in the level of teenage aggression and cruelty, which provokes teenage crime.

Crime prevention among the younger generation and preventive work should be carried out in the environment where children and adolescents spend the most time – at school. Often, misunderstandings with peers deepen the inner feelings of a teenager, who expresses them by committing unlawful acts and aggression against people.

In order to prevent these negative phenomena, create an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual understanding among students, it is worth introducing school mediation.

In mediation, schoolchildren learn peaceful conflict resolution, non-violent communication, express their own opinions without conflict, constructively manage emotions, make joint agreed decisions, cooperate with other people, realize and promote the principles of tolerance, diversity and non-discrimination.

Therefore, the primary task of school mediation is to create a safe environment and prevent offenses.

“The creation of mediation services in Ukraine was recommended back in 2010. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine “On overcoming juvenile delinquency and organizing preventive work” states that in schools where mediation programs are actively operating, the number of appeals to the school administration regarding conflicts and the number of fights among students are reduced by 80%, and the number of cases of temporary removal of students from school is reduced by 75%,” emphasizes

Kateryna Dankova

.

The activity is taking place within the framework of the project “Development of the Public Justice Center in Chernihiv Region” with the support of the American people, provided through within the framework of .