Contemporary competences relevant to the protection of children's rights and safety at school

On 3 December, the Association Integration Europe-East organised another specialist training course for teachers working with behaviourally addicted students. The classes were held at the Mikołaj Kopernik School Complex No. 1 in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and were led by Dr Katarzyna Krzystanek, a psychologist, researcher and practitioner. Participation in the training was free of charge thanks to the project: ‘Świętokrzyskie – development and partnership for professional counselling.’

The first part of the training focused on the phenomenon of computer games. Dr Krzystanek discussed the mechanisms of game design that strongly engage young users, including reward systems, elements of competition and a sense of agency. She pointed out that for many students, games are not only entertainment, but also a way of coping with stress and building relationships.

Another area discussed was the Internet and social media, which have become an integral part of school life in recent years. The topic of mobile phones in schools aroused particular emotion.

The discussion then moved on to behavioural addictions, including addiction to computers, the Internet, games and mobile phones. Dr Krzystanek presented in detail the symptoms that teachers should look out for, such as withdrawal from relationships, irritability, loss of control over time spent using devices, and a decline in school performance.

Finally, the key role of teachers in recognising the first signs of a problem and supporting pupils in regaining their balance was emphasised. Participants received practical tips on talking to young people, working with parents and referring students to specialists. The training was very well received and showed how important it is to prepare teaching staff to work with students functioning in a world intensely saturated with multimedia.

Our project is co-financed by the National Institute of Freedom – Centre for Civil Society Development, and participation in the training was free of charge.