New measures introduced to curb school bullying

Government tackles the growing problem of physical and mental torment on campus, report Xin Dingding in Beijing and Liu Ce in Shenyang.

The government has released a guideline to address the problem of bullying and student violence in primary and middle schools. The measures were released on Friday by nine government departments, including the Ministry of Education, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Schools have been ordered to strengthen awareness of bullying, to inform students about the consequences and to teach them to protect themselves. Moreover, students with severe behavioral problems face being transferred to special schools appropriate to their needs, and in serious cases, the perpetrators will face administrative or criminal penalties.