Educational Ombudsman: Ignoring Reports of Bullying from Educators is Unacceptable

Nadiya Leshchyk, the Educational Ombudsman of Ukraine, has raised significant alarm regarding the alarming trend of ignoring reports from educators who are reporting cases of bullying within educational institutions. In her recent address, she called upon the heads of educational establishments to take appropriate action in response to these reports, as bullying is a pervasive issue that extends beyond the student population.

In her statement, Leshchyk pointed out that discussions around bullying in society typically focus on the harassment of children. However, she highlighted the unfortunate reality that educators themselves also fall victim to violence. She emphasized that reports received through social media and unofficial communication channels indicate the existence of bullying incidents targeting teachers. Nevertheless, she noted that official statements from educators regarding bullying remain scarce.

According to data provided by the Educational Ombudsman, in 2025, the Ombudsman’s Service received 165 reports concerning maltreatment, including bullying and discrimination within educational institutions. Since the beginning of 2026, there have been 66 such reports, but only two of these originated from educators seeking protection from bullying.

Leshchyk further noted that educators frequently report harassment from their colleagues, particularly from school administrators, which points to the presence of mobbing. In 2024, there were 68 reports documented regarding mobbing and conflicts among adult participants in the educational process, and this number increased to 84 in 2025.

According to Leshchyk, global trends indicate a rise in violence within educational institutions, particularly bullying directed at teachers. She cited data from Germany, where 60% of surveyed school principals reported an increase in both physical and psychological violence in their schools over the past five years. In France, a report from the Senate's Investigative Mission revealed that 58,500 teachers reported threats, while 17,200 experienced physical violence. In Finland, in 2019, one in ten teachers became a victim of workplace violence.

Additionally, a UNESCO report indicated that 80% of teachers in 2024 reported experiencing some form of violence, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults. Leshchyk pointed out that Ukrainian teachers rarely file complaints about bullying for several reasons, including pressure from administration, fear of appearing unprofessional, uncertainty about their rights, and distrust in the possibility of change.

"I want to emphasize that the ability and willingness of educators to defend their rights is a primary condition for the protection of those rights. If an educator is informed about their rights, understands how to practically implement them, and knows how to act in the event of a violation, they are then prepared to take action—only then can we talk about a real possibility of protecting those rights. I urge teachers: do not be afraid to speak out and defend your rights!" Leshchyk stressed.

She also underscored that it is unacceptable to ignore reports of bullying, particularly from educators. According to her, such actions do not serve to "protect the reputation" of the educational institution; rather, they undermine it. "Therefore, I urge heads of educational institutions who receive reports of bullying from teachers: it is necessary to respond in accordance with current legislation, not to discriminate against such educators, and to provide them with support. Remember that the reporting mechanism for bullying aims not only to stop violence and normalize relationships within the team but also to eliminate the causes of such violence. Prompt and effective responses are the only appropriate reaction from educational institutions to instances of violence," concluded the Educational Ombudsman.