Ashkan Sultani took his own life after what his parent say was years of bullying that the school system did not do enought to prevent. (CBC)

Friends and teachers of Ashkan Sultani held a memorial service for the Vancouver Island teen at his high school Monday after the 15-year-old took his own life in what his family says was a needless tragedy.

Sultani hanged himself Jan. 12 after years of continuous bullying that his parents say the school system did not do enough to prevent.

"They aren't acknowledging the bullying," Ashkan's father Nader Sultani said.

Even though the Sultani had changed to Woodlands Secondary from another school, the abuse did not stop, his mother said.

"It was physical abuse first in the other school," Hangameh Sultani told CBC News on Monday. "Eventually, it became all verbal, very degrading."

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district said bullying is discussed as part of the curriculum and that teachers are taught how to identify harassment and intimidation of students.

A district spokesman acknowledged the bullying prevention program was being re-examined, but suggested the review was not triggered by Ashkan Sultani's suicide.

"Our experience is that something like suicide is a very complex matter," said district superintendent Michael Munro. "It's very seldom that one singular incident or even one type of issue is going to lead to this kind of tragedy."

The Sultanis were asked to take part in a school board suicide-prevention campaign that in their opinion was not comprehensive enough.

Hagameh Sultani, left, and her husband Nader Sultani turned down a request from the school board that they take part in a suicide prevention campaign. (CBC)

"We wanted bullying and suicide together … with awareness and education and training," said Hangameh. But she said the board did not want to associate suicide directly with bullying.

The Sultanis said they did not want to go public with their grief and frustration but felt compelled to do so after hearing from other parents who say their children were also being bullied and wanted to see something done about it.