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The numbers make uncomfortable reading. Last year, 54 confirmed cases of bullying were registered across Murcia's schools, drawn from 640 reports or suspicions. At the same time, the latest international TALIS survey found that teachers in Spain lose around 20% of their class time simply trying to maintain order. The regional government has decided enough is enough.
Last Wednesday, the Governing Council approved a new decree on school coexistence, which Minister of Education Víctor Marín says "will mark a turning point in how bullying is addressed and managed in classrooms." The message at its heart is straightforward: where bullying is confirmed, the aggressor will be transferred to a different school if they are in compulsory education, or permanently expelled if they are enrolled in non-compulsory education such as high school. "Those who bully," said Marín, "cannot remain in the same environment as their victims."
One of the more eye-catching changes is the scrapping of minor offences altogether. From now on, behaviours fall into just two categories. Conduct detrimental to coexistence covers things like classroom interruptions, disobedience, inconsiderate behaviour and, yes, bringing a mobile phone to class, previously a minor offence but now bumped up a category. Conduct seriously detrimental to coexistence covers aggression, threats, harassment, expressions of hatred and theft. The logic, as Marín explains it, is that "by acting sooner, we prevent situations from escalating."
The decree also extends its reach beyond the classroom door. Bullying on school transport or in cafeterias will be treated as an aggravated offence, given that these are less supervised spaces.
Sanctions can include suspension from those services for the remainder of the school year, a significant step up from the previous maximum of five days, and notably, cafeteria suspensions simply did not exist under the old rules at all.
Teachers gain more authority too, with the ability to act immediately when they witness disruptive behaviour, without lengthy paperwork or prior warnings. Where provisional measures such as temporary non-attendance are needed during an investigation, these now become mandatory rather than optional, closing a gap in the previous system.
Marín was keen to frame the decree positively, insisting "it is not against anyone" but rather "in favour of everyone: the students who want to learn, the teachers who work to teach, and the families who want the best for their children." He also stressed the importance of families and schools working together, sending children a single, consistent message: "There are rules, there are limits and there are consequences, but there is also support and education in values."
The decree is not yet law. It will be published on the Transparency Portal for public suggestions before passing through legal services, the School Council of the Region of Murcia and the Legal Council. The government is aiming for full approval before the end of the current legislative term, in the first quarter of 2027.
You might also be interested in: Spain bans sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods from school breakfasts and snacks
Image: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
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