A Grade 12 student from Fredericton, whose anti-bullying recommendations were included in recent amendments to the provincial Education Act, is hopeful they will help.

Alisha Virmani suggested cyberbullying be included in the legislative amendments introduced earlier this month, based on her personal experience.

Virmani told the ministerial advisory committee about how she was bullied by other students at Fredericton High School on the social media site Twitter and how it affected her school work.

"They were shocked. They were so shocked," she said.

"They've heard about the impact that cyberbullying can have, but it's completely different to hear it as a real story and hear that, you know, this isn't just something that's happening on the news, it's happening here in Fredericton. It is a big deal."

Under the new legislation, if an incident outside of school affects school life, the school can intervene.

Virmani also suggested a student who gets caught bullying should get the same level of help as one who gets caught doing drugs. That recommendation is also reflected in the amendments.

"I was ecstatic because, being an 18-year-old kid, you think, ‘What am I going to do? No one's going to listen to what I have to say,’" she said.

"And it's amazing to actually be a part of something and see that you know, the ministerial committee had a completely different focus before I went in and did my presentation. And knowing that my presentation has completely changed their focus and is going to impact other students' lives in the future is just incredible."

Mandatory reporting

Virmani also agrees with the new rule that all bullying incidents must be reported by school principals.

She said that doesn't always happen in New Brunswick, where even the capital city is in many ways a small town.

"Everybody knows everybody. So, if there is a case of bullying, a lot of times it gets swept under the rug because it's the, you know, soccer coach's son, or this is this person's, the football player's, best friend.

"So it's important to make sure things like that don't get hidden and swept under."

The ministerial committee is currently developing prevention and intervention programs schools will be able to use.

The committee hopes to have that work finished by the end of the school year.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr also plans to hire two anti-bullying co-ordinators and create an annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.

He has said additional changes to crack down on bullying across the province will be announced once the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Positive Learning and Working Environment submits its final recommendations.

Anti-bullying advocates have been calling for tough, new measures for years.