The role of civic education on the types and causes of bullying in school

Educational institutions have a responsibility to create a safe and peaceful environment, where the emotional and social well-being of students is promoted. In such an environment, students are encouraged to engage with pleasure in the learning process to develop their knowledge but also to interact constructively with their peers, strengthening their social skills and sense of belonging to the community. Such an environment is being challenged by the spread of the phenomenon of bullying, which creates deep concerns among students, parents, schools and the community. This study aims to investigate the types, causes and effects that lead to the occurrence of bullying in schools, as well as the role of civic education in preventing bullying. This study included 150 students from six schools in three different municipalities of Kosovo. The questionnaire used was based on the model developed by Dan Olweus, which was adapted for the purposes of our research. The types of bullying that appeared in schools are: the desire to be first, aggression, jealousy, revenge and physical weakness. The results of the study indicate a worrying spread of the phenomenon of bullying in schools in Kosovo. According to the results, 30.6% of students reported being victims of bullying in the last six months, while 16.7% admitted to having bullied their peers. Additionally, 11.4% of students stated that they had experienced a dual situation, being both victims and aggressors. The results point to the complexity of this social phenomenon and the need for a holistic, integrated approach to treating and preventing bullying.