Schoolkids’ suicides prompt surge of concern
Dire need for more teacher training and pupils’ workshops.
Bullying, academic stress and the current pandemic are all likely to be affecting Macao’s schoolchildren, according to the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) Director Lou Pak Sang.
Lou was speaking just days after a 14-year-old secondary school pupil plunged to her death from her family apartment in central Macao.
Lou said that in the wake of a recent series of pupil suicides, the local government had formed a concern group with The Chinese Educators Association of Macau, Macau Catholic Schools Association, and Caritas Macau to help youths in need of mental support.
Both the ongoing pandemic and academic stress could be factors leading to suicide, Lou said.
He added that the local government aimed to provide more training for teachers so they could be more sensitive and aware of their pupils’ situation, as well as workshops for pupils about being an “active bystander” during bullying.
He added that youths can also call Caritas Macau’s lifeline 2852-5222 for mental support.
The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), of which Lou had been the director since 2018, and the Higher Education Bureau (DSES) merged and became the new Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) on Monday.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macao News)
