Violence in Latvia's schools as common as ever

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Despite falling juvenile crime rates across the country, violence at schools is as common as ever, says Latvia's State Police.

The police was called to solve conflicts at school in 852 cases last year with 21 criminal proceedings initiated against minors, reported Latvian Radio on July 27.

Child protective services and education authorities say children are starting to act aggressively at an increasingly early age and being subjected to violence is one of the main reasons why students start skipping school.

Parents report several hundred cases of violence at school each year, but they usually turn to authorities outside the school only if violence is ongoing. Out of the hundreds of cases, says the State Inspectorate for Protection of Children's Rights, about 70 can be proven each year.

According to an OECD study conducted in 2015, 30.6% of Latvia's 15-year-olds said they've been bullied several times a month. The OECD average is 18.7%.

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