Prompted by public debate sparked by a newly released Netflix mini-series, school leadership teams and parents’ associations in Portugal are calling for more effective measures to prevent bullying and violence among young people. As reported by RTP on 25 March 2025, concern is growing following a series of physical and psychological assaults in schools, some of which have gained significant media attention.

The educational community highlights the need to strengthen both prevention and early intervention. The absence of swift and effective responses can exacerbate conflict and perpetuate aggressive behaviour among students. Parents and teachers advocate for an integrated approach that involves not only schools, but also families and social support services.

Experts continue to stress the importance of implementing emotional education and citizenship programmes from the earliest stages of schooling. Promoting values such as respect, empathy and tolerance is seen as essential to creating safer and more inclusive learning environments. Furthermore, continuous training for teachers and school staff is crucial to enable them to identify and appropriately address cases of bullying.

This joint appeal by schools and families seeks to raise awareness among authorities of the urgent need for stronger, more effective public policies to combat violence in schools. The message is clear: every child and young person must be able to grow and learn in safety, free from fear and discrimination.