BULLYING IN SCHOOLS IN ZIMBABWE: INTERROGATING THE UNDERLYING FACTORS

Schools are vital centres for fostering acceptable behaviour and providing safe and friendly environments for teaching and learning. However, cases of aggressive behaviour among learners have been observed in some schools in Zimbabwe. There are several factors that have contributed to the rise in cases of aggressive behaviour among learners. The agenda 2030 development goal number four states that governments have an obligation to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and one of its targets aims at providing safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all learners (UN,2015). Bullying therefore creates an unsafe and threatening environment for both teachers and learners. Modern technology has added a new dimension to the phenomenon of bullying. Cases of cyber bullying have been observed in some schools. The paper examined factors that have contributed to this increase. It used qualitative research approach and the case study research design. Data was collected from purposively selected five schools in Chegutu Education district of Zimbabwe. The study used interviews to generate data from purposively selected teachers, school heads, and parents who were members of the School Development Committees. The sample had a total of forty-five participants. Data was analyzed through open and axial coding. The conceptual labels that emerged from the coding guided the analysis and discussion. The study concluded that the problem of bullying in schools was exacerbated by poverty, socio-economic factors, lack of guidance at home and school, teachers’ attitudes, lack of monitoring and supervision and government circulars that limit the school heads’ powers, and the break-down of the extended family. Some of the problems are criminal in nature for example, cases of drugs, cyber bullying and sexual harassment of girls in secondary schools must involve the police, through child friendly police units. All school levels experienced bullying behaviours. However, cases of sexual harassment, cyber bullying and drugs were much more common in secondary schools than primary schools. The study recommends a collective effort by all stakeholders, appointment of counsellors in schools and designing policies that empower school heads to effectively deal with cases of indiscipline at school level.