Kašić: We lack an example of how conflicts are resolved in an appropriate way, things do not work in our society

Psychological-pedagogical (PP) services in primary and secondary schools should be a safe space for all students, regardless of their age, especially if those students need help. However, they are often not, and their purpose is often called into question

This is what Marija Ružić Stajović, program director of the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Juventas" and psychologist Al-Ammar Kašić said during the panel "Education and inclusion: Creating safe school environments".

"School is a place where every young person should feel safe and secure. And it is a place that should stimulate students to realize their potential and be who they are," said Ružić Stajović, adding that we are witnessing that educational institutions , often, are not spaces where students feel protected from peer violence.

"The story of violence is only the tip of the iceberg"

Psychologist Al-Ammar Kašić said that the expediency of the pedagogical-psychological service is questionable. During the panel, he pointed out that he is not sure that the PP service is the safest place for students.

"Being a member of a minority often entails factors that the majority do not understand. The non-governmental sector organizes support and programs for members of the LGBT community, but all this is modest," he said.

Ružić Stajović said that the trend of peer violence is not decreasing, moreover, "everything is becoming more extreme", and added that the system must deal with it more seriously.

She said that it is difficult to deal with this phenomenon of violence, but much greater attention is necessary.

Kašić said that when "we talk about violence, we see the tip of the iceberg".

The key is community empowerment

He said we see violence through the "family taboo".

"We lack an example of how conflicts are resolved in an appropriate way. If we don't have a dialogue, we stay in cycles, we divide into camps," Kašić said, adding that "things don't work in our society."

He warned that violence should not be used to fight violence and emphasized that it is crucial to empower the community.

Kašić is of the opinion that "we have lost trust in the system to prepare children for a better tomorrow".

PP services, Ružić Stajović believes, must be strengthened and constantly work on better organization.

"We have a big road ahead of us that cannot be solved only by non-governmental organizations, schools or PP services," said Ružić Stajović.