Child Bullied at School: Is It Campus Bullying? Criteria, Reporting Channels, and Investigation Process at a Glance
This page discusses interpersonal conflicts and bullying among students on campus (campus bullying), which is a completely different issue from the admission/fee disputes covered in the "Refunds and Complaints" page. According to the Ministry of Education's "Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines," the key criteria for bullying are "persistence" and "actual harm"—not every argument or conflict qualifies, but a single extremely severe incident that affects a child's normal school attendance may also be addressed. Below are the criteria, formal reporting channels, and the process and timelines schools must follow after an investigation is requested.
What Counts as "Campus Bullying"? Not Every Argument Qualifies
According to Article 3 of the Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines, bullying refers to individuals or groups repeatedly using words, text, images, symbols, physical actions, electronic communication, the internet, or other means to directly or indirectly intentionally demean, exclude, harass, or mock others, causing mental, physical, or property damage, or affecting their normal learning rights. The key criteria are "persistence" and "specific harm"—a single peer friction, disagreement, or ordinary argument usually does not count as bullying; however, even a one-time incident may be addressed if it is extremely severe and causes the child to be unable to attend school normally. Whether an incident constitutes bullying is determined on a case-by-case basis, subject to the review of the school's prevention committee.
Official Source：Ministry of Education, K-12 Education Administration — Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines
Formal Reporting Channels If You Suspect Your Child Is Being Bullied
In addition to directly informing the homeroom teacher, there are several formal channels: ① Submit a complaint to the school's complaint mailbox; ② Call the anti-bullying hotline of the city/county where the school is located; ③ Call the Ministry of Education's 24-hour hotline "1953"; ④ Report via the campus life questionnaire distributed by the school; ⑤ Leave a message on the Ministry of Education's anti-bullying website. Once the principal or staff become aware of a suspected incident, they must immediately report it to the school's responsible personnel, no later than 24 hours, and the school must keep the reporter's identity confidential. To initiate a formal investigation, the victimized student or their legal guardian (parent) may submit a written complaint to the school or the competent authority to request an investigation.
Process and Timelines After Requesting an Investigation
After receiving a complaint, the school follows these timelines under the guidelines: ① Review stage—decide whether to accept the case within 20 working days; ② Form a handling team—complete formation within 5 working days after acceptance; ③ Mediation or investigation—complete the report within 2 months from the first meeting, with up to 2 extensions of 1 month each if necessary; ④ Final decision—issue a formal decision within 15 working days after the prevention committee's resolution and notify the applicant in writing. The entire process may take several months. Parents can stay in contact with the school to track progress. Actual timelines depend on the case and school regulations.
Official Source：Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China — Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines
Does the School Act as Both Player and Referee? Composition of the Prevention Committee
To avoid conflicts of interest, the guidelines require that elementary and secondary schools establish a "Campus Bullying Prevention Response Team" (prevention committee) with 5 to 11 members, including the principal (chair), teacher representatives, parent representatives, and external experts—not solely determined by the school. The committee has a "Review Team" (3 members) to preliminarily assess whether the incident meets acceptance criteria, and a "Handling Team" (3 to 5 members) to conduct mediation or investigation. The involvement of parent representatives and external experts serves as a built-in check and balance, not a unilateral decision by school staff.
What to Do If You Disagree with the Outcome
If the complainant disagrees with the school's decision not to accept the case, they may file a petition with the competent authority (city/county education bureau or Ministry of Education, depending on the school level) within 30 days, limited to one time. If the alleged perpetrator disagrees with the final decision, they may also file a petition with the competent authority within 30 days, once. The competent authority has a review committee to provide a second level of oversight on the school's decision—the school's decision is not final. This site is a neutral compilation of public data; it does not handle individual cases or file appeals on behalf of anyone. It only aggregates official procedures and remedies for reference. Actual handling should follow the official responses from the school and competent authority.
FAQ
If my child says they are being bullied at school, does it always count as campus bullying?
Not necessarily. According to the Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines, the key criteria are "persistence" and "actual harm"—a single argument or disagreement usually does not count, but a single extremely severe incident that affects the child's normal school attendance may also be addressed. Whether it constitutes bullying is determined on a case-by-case basis by the school's prevention committee.
Besides telling the teacher, what other formal reporting channels are available?
You can use: the school's complaint mailbox, the anti-bullying hotline of the city/county where the school is located, the Ministry of Education's 24-hour hotline "1953", the school's campus life questionnaire, or the Ministry of Education's anti-bullying website. To initiate a formal investigation, the victimized student or parent may submit a written complaint to the school or competent authority.
After requesting an investigation, how soon can I expect a result?
According to the guidelines: acceptance decision within 20 working days, handling team formation within 5 working days after acceptance, investigation report completed within 2 months from the first meeting (extendable up to 2 times, 1 month each), and final decision within 15 working days after the committee's resolution. The entire process may take several months; actual progress depends on the case.
Does the school act as both player and referee in the investigation?
The guidelines include checks and balances: the prevention committee must include the principal, teacher representatives, parent representatives, and external experts (5-11 members total), with separate review and handling teams working in stages—not a unilateral decision by the school. If you still disagree with the outcome, you can file a petition with the competent authority (education bureau or Ministry of Education), which has a review committee for a second-level review.
What can I do if I disagree with the school's investigation result?
If the complainant disagrees with the decision not to accept the case, or if the alleged perpetrator disagrees with the final decision, they may file a petition with the competent authority within 30 days (limited to once each). The competent authority has a review committee to oversee the school's decision—the school's decision is not final.
Does this mechanism also apply to international schools and bilingual schools?
The Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines apply to student-on-student bullying incidents at all levels of schools (including elementary and secondary schools), covering public and private schools established under domestic academic regulations (including legally established bilingual/international departments). As for pure foreign schools, this site has found no clear official regulations to cite; it is recommended to confirm directly with the school and the local education authority regarding the applicable mechanism.
Official Source：Ministry of Education, K-12 Education Administration — Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines、Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China — Campus Bullying Prevention Guidelines
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only. It does not constitute admission advice or any promise of admission or visa outcomes.