Preventing Retaliation and Protective Measures for the Victim

Which step are you at?

Select your current step and the content for that step will appear below.

1. 1Requesting immediate separation
2. 2Urgent protective measures
3. 3Ban on contact, threats and retaliation
4. 4Psychological counseling, treatment and recuperation
5. 5Class transfer
6. 6Additional report if retaliation occurs
7. 7Claiming treatment costs

• Basic step
• Additional action / option
• Rejection / objection
• End of procedure

Time required

Immediate separation upon report; after the deliberation committee's request, the superintendent takes protective measures for the victim within 7 days; the period of counseling and treatment varies by case

Cost

As a rule, counseling and treatment costs are borne by the offending student's guardians; if you wish, the School Safety Mutual Aid Association (or the provincial or metropolitan office of education) pays first and then seeks reimbursement from the offending side

Procedure guide

Read from start to finish in order. Red text marks deadlines set by law.

1. 1

   At the same time as you report, ask the principal to separate your child from the offending student right away (immediate separation) (School Violence Prevention Act §16). The principal must separate them unless there are special circumstances, such as the victim objecting (Enforcement Decree §17-2(1)). The period and method of separation follow the standards set by the Minister of Education (Enforcement Decree §17-2(2)), so check with the school.

2. 2

   If the victim asks for urgent protection, the principal takes protective measures such as psychological counseling, temporary protection and treatment first, without waiting for the deliberation committee's decision, and reports to the deliberation committee immediately (School Violence Prevention Act §16(1)). If you request the measures you need in writing, you can make sure none are left out.

3. 3

   When the principal learns of school violence, the principal must, even before deliberation, take measure No. 2 (ban on contact, threats and retaliation against the victim and the reporting student) without delay (School Violence Prevention Act §17(4)), and the deliberation committee can also request this measure (§17(1) item 2). Contact through information and communications networks is also banned.

4. 4

   Under measure No. 1 (psychological counseling and advice from experts inside or outside the school) and measure No. 3 (treatment and recuperation for treatment), your child receives counseling and treatment at a Wee Center, Wee Class, hospital or similar (School Violence Prevention Act §16). Absences during this period can be treated as attendance if the principal approves (School Violence Prevention Act §16(4)). So ask the school to recognize them as attendance.

5. 5

   If your child must keep facing the offending student in the same class, your child can receive a class transfer (No. 4) that moves the victim to another class, or you can request a class transfer (No. 7) or school transfer (No. 8) for the offending student.

   Current step
6. 6

   If the offending student or their friends retaliate through harassment, ostracism or badmouthing, report it right away as new school violence. Retaliation is not a case that can be resolved within the school (School Violence Prevention Act §13-2(1) item 4), and it is a ground for imposing measures at the same time or making them heavier (§17(2)). Record signs of retaliation right away, such as screenshots of badmouthing, photos of the student approaching, and statements from people who saw it. This is because refusing or avoiding the ban on contact and retaliation is a ground for disciplinary action by the principal or a request for additional measures (§17(10)(15)).

7. 7

   Claim counseling, treatment and recuperation costs from the School Safety Mutual Aid Association (or the provincial or metropolitan office of education) and receive them first. The association then seeks reimbursement (claims the costs it paid on their behalf) from the offending student's guardians (School Violence Prevention Act §16(6)). The costs the association pays first are psychological counseling and temporary protection costs at institutions designated by the superintendent of education, and treatment, recuperation and medicine costs at hospitals, pharmacies and the like; the claim and payment procedure applies Article 41 of the Act on the Prevention of and Compensation for Safety Accidents at Schools mutatis mutandis (Enforcement Decree §18).

Frequently asked questions

Practical questions that come up right away in this procedure.

QHow do I request immediate separation? Can I just say it?

It is best to make the request in writing so the date is on record. Send a text message or document to the homeroom teacher or the teacher in charge of school violence.The content is "I request immediate separation and urgent protective measures." Also keep a record of the school's reply.

QDo I pay treatment costs first and get reimbursed later? Where do I claim them?

As a rule, counseling and treatment costs, such as medical expenses, are borne by the offending student's guardians. However, if the principal or the victim's guardians wish, the School Safety Mutual Aid Association (or the provincial or metropolitan office of education) pays first.It then seeks reimbursement (recovering the money paid on their behalf) from the offending student's guardians. Guardians may also claim mutual aid benefits directly from the School Safety Mutual Aid Association. The costs that can be claimed are for psychological counseling, temporary protection, treatment, recuperation and medicines.The claim procedure follows the Act on the Prevention of and Compensation for Safety Accidents at Schools. Check the specific documents and deadlines with the school or the association.

QWhat if the offending student keeps contacting my child through social media or friends?

Take screenshots with the date visible and tell the school right away. If measure No. 2 (ban on contact, threats and retaliation) has already been imposed, this violates the measure.Even before measures are imposed, you can report it as new school violence. If threats are repeated, also report them to the police as stalking or threats.

QDoes counseling at a Wee Center or Wee Class cost money?

Check with the school or the local office of education about the cost of Wee Class and Wee Center counseling. Costs of psychological counseling, temporary protection and treatment that the victim receives from specialized organizations or experts are borne by the offending student's guardians. If you wish, the School Safety Mutual Aid Association (or the provincial or metropolitan office of education) can pay first.

QMy child wants to go to a different school. Can a victim also transfer?

Yes, they can. A transfer of the victim works differently from a measure against the offending student. The principal recommends it after recognizing the need to change the student's educational environment.Then the superintendent of the local office of education (for high schools, the superintendent of education) designates the school to transfer to. Ask the principal and discuss it.