Bullying has become a global problem that has the potential to harm pupils physically and mentally.
Some kids don’t look forward to the first day of school because they know that bullies are waiting for them.
A large number of these incidents are not reported because the victim fears being intimidated and embarrassed.
In some cases the school does nothing because it wants to protect its reputation.
The worst part is that classmates do nothing when their peers are being bullied. They record the incident on video and share it on social media instead of stopping the bully.
Bullying often causes pupils to drop out of school, bunk class or resort to suicide.
This was confirmed by a study conducted by the World Health Organisation.
Of the pupils interviewed for the study, 71% of the girls said they had been bullied.
On the other hand, 63% of the boys said they felt unsafe at school.
Some of them even said they felt threatened by their peers.
Pupils are now bringing knives and guns to schools to protect themselves from bullies or to bully others. This proves that bullying goes beyond a bit of name-calling and teasing.
It is a vicious act that has the potential to harm the victim’s mental health. In some cases, bullying even leads to death.
Some parents and pupils argue that most teachers turn a blind eye to bullying.
A teacher from Forte High in Dobsonville, Soweto disagrees.
He said: “Teachers have very little control over how to handle violent pupils in their classrooms.
“These pupils have rights and they are quick to insult you in front of their peers.When you try to discipline them, they report the incident incorrectly.
“Some teachers refrain from reporting such incidents because they fear for their lives and don’t always receive support from the principal or school governing body.”
According to statistics revealed by the South African Council of Educators last year, South Africa has some of the highest incidence of
violence in schools.
The Protection from Harassment Act 71 of 2011 grants relief to victims of bullying.
The law recognises the extent of the problem and provides laws to protect victims.
Nomkhosi Miya
