Violence in Schools: Causes and Solutions

Violence in schools has become a worldwide problem. This has really panicked the parents as well as the children. Years back the violence in schools was limited to the peers, teachers and other school staffs. Now the situation has been changed drastically. The attack on school children at Pakistan and Kenya has forced the people to rethink the way they were thinking about the violence in schools. Though this did not happen for the first time, a number similar cases have been reported in other countries earlier. But the difference was in the former cases Terrorist Outfits took the responsibility. The causes and solution to such violence cannot be discussed here and I shall try to keep the focus on the violence in the schools those used to happen by the peers, teachers and other school staffs.

One of the reports of Unicef says 246 million boys and girls suffer from physical, psychological and sexual school related violence globally. This prevents children and adolescent to realize their right to education. The nature of violence in schools differs from country to country as the roots are really attached with the norms, culture, tradition and customs of the country. The reasons for violence in schools may be categorised into the following;

The Natural Phenomenon: Children grow thru different phases during their development. During teenage children are more prone to commit mistakes, violence etc. The experimental nature and the tendency to imitate can be considered as major reasons of violence in schools.

Competitions in school life and jealousness: The modern education system has largely enforced competitions among the children. Hence, the failures of different events, activities and examinations of school feel jealous and they target the children who largely succeed which resulted in violence.

Poor up bring by parents at home: It has been largely accepted that the children who see act of violence in the family life are more prone to do so. If the parents are quarrelsome then it will have an adverse effect on the children. Again in many cases the parents do not spend quality time with the children because of their busy life style sand schedules.

Poor role played by teachers: In many cases it has been observed that children have become the victim of physical, sexual as well as psychological violence by the teachers as there are many unethical people doing the noble job of teaching.

Losing values like fellow feeling: The new modern way of life, busy life schedule has made people so much individualistic that people as well as children are losing the values like fellow feeling. People see other as mere competitor rather than a fellow human being.

Solving such a delicate issue is never an easy task. To deal with such issues we need to work at different levels mentioned below;

1. Government: Recruiting competent person is one important duty which needs to be performed by the government for government run schools. In countries like India just to achieve 100% enrolment government is opening schools in all the habitations and struggling with placing competent teachers. In the name of teachers in many places they are recruiting just 10th and 12th standard people who are neither able to teach nor able to manage the children.

1.1 Control on use of internet: Different contents on violence are easily accessible to children now thru internet. Then children imitate and experiment a lot.  Again at teen age children usually become violent and all these together increase the incidence of violence a lot. There is a need to put control on some contents available in the net.  

1. 2 Ensure appropriate disciplinary measures: Exemplary disciplinary measures against the culprits are highly required now. In some countries many children below the age of 18 years are able to escape punishments for their heinous crimes and violence. The absence of punishment, late administrative and judicial decisions are spoiling the whole essence of laws, acts and policies. Appropriate disciplinary measures can crate fear among the people who are prone to commit violence, be it teacher, children or outsiders.

2. School Administration and Teachers: The school administrations and teachers need to develop education curriculum which should build the character of the children. The following aspects can be considered to be included in the school life, and day to day activities;

1.   Putting right people in the job

2.   Stop comparing children with other children

3.   Stop inculcating strong sense of competition among the children

4.   Completely banning corporal punishment in school

5.   Stringent actions against the teachers who use punishment as a measure to ensure discipline.

6.   Building a healthy and friendly relationship with the children

7.   Making Life skill education mandatory at school education:

8.   Teachers training on classroom process

9.   Ensure child friendly education

10. Educate children on consequences of violence during preschool and primary level of education

3. Parents: As discussed the disturbed home environment and the poor behaviour of parents are contributory factors for violence by children. Hence, the parents need to behave properly when the children are growing in the family. Secondly, they have a larger role to make their children socially responsible, having good morals and values. So from an early age they need to educate children properly so as later in life they don’t create any problems for others.

4. Children: Among the children steps can be taken to form child clubs, peer groups so as they can take collective voices. This can even work as a pressure group to stop the violence in schools. These groups need to be trained on life skills, child rights and supported for collective engagement in different productive and social work. This will keep the children engaged after schools education hours and develop a sense of belongingness which shall reduce the occurrence of violence. 

We need to understand that human lives are valuable and mutual relation brings prosperity and happiness. Let’s spread this message as this may lead to end of violence in all sphere of life.