Bullying remains a serious concern in South African schools, with parents, teachers and learners urged to recognise the warning signs and act before intimidation, harassment or violence escalates. The issue has come under renewed scrutiny following an incident involving a Durban High School learner who was found critically injured on the N3 late last week after falling from the Musgrave Road bridge.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and there has been no confirmation that bullying was a factor. However, the incident has raised concerns about learner safety and the emotional challenges children may face at school.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and no conclusions should be drawn before the facts are established, however, the incident has once again highlighted the importance of creating schools where children feel safe enough to learn and speak out.
The Department of Basic Education said that bullying can take place inside or outside school and may be physical, verbal or emotional. It is generally repeated over time and intended to hurt, frighten or intimidate another learner.
“Bullying can occur in classrooms, corridors, toilets, during breaks, on school buses and during after-school activities. It can also involve groups isolating one learner, while other children remain silent because they fear becoming the next target. Parents should be alert to sudden changes in a child’s behaviour, including; losing interest in school or favourite activities, a decline in schoolwork,reluctance to attend school or use school transport, anxiety, sadness, irritability or unusual mood changes, frequent headaches, stomach aches or other unexplained illnesses, nightmares or sleeplessness. The child can also have unexplained bruises, scratches or damaged clothing, avoiding particular places at school or in the neighbourhood.
“Other signals are that the child is withdrawing from friends or preferring the company of adults, associating with potentially harmful peer groups or talking about depression, anxiety, suicide or self-harm. .Any mention of suicide or self-harm should be treated as an immediate concern, with urgent professional or emergency assistance sought.”
The Department advises parents to always stay calm and listen without blaming or judging the child, find out what happened, who was involved, and when and where it occurred, keep a record of incidents and preserve evidence, particularly in cyberbullying cases, report the matter to the teacher, principal or senior school management, ask for the school’s bullying policy and what steps will be taken to protect the learner, request increased supervision in areas where bullying occurs., encourage the child to speak to a trusted adult at school and to reassure the child that they are not responsible for the bullying.
“Schools are also advised to make it clear that bullying is unacceptable and including anti-bullying measures in the learner Code of Conduct, increase supervision in playgrounds, corridors, toilets and other vulnerable areas, provide safe and confidential ways for learners to report problems and to aplying consistent consequences for bullying and aggressive behaviour.
“Schools should also promote respect, empathy, caring and positive peer relationships, find ways to improve communication between teachers, management, parents and learners, offer learners who bully others help with anger-management. Regular awareness programmes and forums on bullying are advised, considering possible psychological, developmental or family factors behind behavioural problems,” said the Department.
The Department furtther advised that learners who are bullied should tell a parent, teacher, counsellor, principal or another trusted adult. Those who witness bullying should not encourage it, laugh at the victim, film the incident or share it online. They should report what they have seen. Where bullying involves assault, serious threats, weapons, sexual abuse or other criminal conduct, the matter should also be reported to the South African Police Service.
