CPFSA reports 32% rise in school bullying cases as stakeholders push for stronger safeguards

Education stakeholders are pressing Jamaican schools to toughen how they spot, log and tackle bullying, after new figures pointed to a sharp uptick in cases reported to the authorities.

Data from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) show more bullying complaints involving Jamaican students between January and March 2026 than in the same months of 2025. Over that review period, the National Children’s Registry logged a 32.4 per cent rise in reported bullying incidents. The CPFSA says it is still working with schools and families to confront the problem.

Kristen Ling, the agency’s public relations and corporate communications manager, said bullying can leave lasting harm to a child’s emotional health, mental wellbeing, self-esteem, schoolwork and overall development. Children who are targeted — or who see others being targeted — should tell a trusted adult such as a teacher, principal or guidance counsellor, she said. Reports can also be made to the CPFSA by calling 211 so support can be arranged.

Bullying may be physical, verbal or online, and specialists warn it often damages mental health, confidence and academic results. Some victims withdraw or try to stay away from school. Many campuses have put anti-bullying rules in place, yet not every incident is disclosed. Fear is frequently cited as a reason cases stay hidden, even when the behaviour is brushed off as joking.

Whether the abuse happens face to face or on digital platforms, Ling said, untreated emotional wounds can follow children into adulthood. She stressed that pupils who bully others also need guidance and intervention aimed at the causes of their conduct. The CPFSA is urging parents, teachers, caregivers and school leaders to treat every bullying complaint seriously, build environments where children feel safe speaking up, and step in quickly before situations worsen.

Officials and educators maintain that no student should have to choose between learning and feeling secure among peers. Child abuse concerns can be reported on WhatsApp at 876-878-2882.