IES of Camp de Turia was under investigation by the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office as concerns about student welfare surfaced. Since October 2022, a student was under supervision, but the ministry was not informed about an anti-bullying plan until May 2023. A case report emerged promptly from Levante-EMV, part of the Prensa Ibérica group. The documents within the Plan for the Prevention of Violence and Promotion of Coexistence (Previ) show centers are required to report these issues.
In its statement on Tuesday, the center said that all safety measures were activated from the outset. It claimed that after the girl’s complaint, meetings with a consultant were held to resolve the situation. Ministry sources indicate there is no evidence that the center had implemented an anti-bullying plan until May of the current year. In short, the student flagged ongoing bullying at the start of the academic year, yet the protocol was not activated until the course was nearly over, a delay linked to repeated failures in subjects.
At the time, Conselleria was aware of the ongoing case, and the center notified Previ again on October 30 of the year. Many IES directors interviewed described the plan as overly bureaucratic and the response time as too slow for centers facing legal action. They urged Conselleria to allocate more resources or streamline the process to improve efficiency.
12 suicides and 344 attempts
Previ covers not only bullying but all forms of violence within the classroom, including self-harm and other acts of aggression among students. The latest records indicate 12 suicides and 344 attempted self-harm incidents in the penultimate school year, a rise compared with pre-pandemic levels. Not all cases are directly linked to bullying, but such factors often play a triggering role.
Between 2022 and 2018, approximately 2,000 students were recorded as having self-harming behaviors, including thoughts of self-harm, suicide attempts, or self-injury. Previ also tracks incidents such as attacks on teachers, child abuse, sexist aggression, and various forms of harassment. Overall, centers reported more than 3,200 incidents during the 2021-22 academic year.
The Ministry of Education’s documents note a rise in some bullying causes. In particular, racist or xenophobic harassment accounts for about one in ten cases, with similar proportions of bullying based on homophobia or transphobia.
Complaint about mother
Center sources confirm a difficult mother–school dynamic. The student reportedly lacked a constructive relationship with her mother, and entry to the center was restricted while a complaint was prepared for alleged insults and slander toward a teacher.
Maria describes a painful experience in which teachers and management appeared skeptical. She recalls being told that belief would come only if cameras confirmed events and that some peers questioned her sanity. Maria asks for belief and support, feeling abandoned by the center and its staff.
The student recently experienced a fresh anxiety episode and is resting at home. Bullying has altered her well-being significantly. Her past years show a drop in school performance and a noticeable weight loss, leading to hospitalization risk. Family and medical professionals supported her recovery, and she now reports improved eating habits.
Her mother explains that despite ongoing efforts, the situation remains challenging and there is a sense of limited options. She hopes for a change in the school environment next year, believing that without action the bullying will persist while the student moves on elsewhere.
Self harm
While not common, some teenagers cope with fear and stress by harming themselves or seeking help from medical professionals. The mother described regular pediatric visits and the use of short-term anxiolytic medications to ease daily worries about school and sleep.
Bullying originates both inside and outside the institute. Even with a school bus at the front door, the student avoids using it due to risk concerns. This fear prevents going out alone because of anticipated intimidation from peers.
Despite these struggles, the municipal psychologist has been a key source of support, and weekly sessions have helped the student gain confidence in handling the situation. The mother remains focused on finding a safer school option for the next year, believing that more proactive support is necessary to avoid a repeat of the current pattern.