BAFDT, an organisation centred on mental health support and awareness, has received numerous calls regarding bullying in schools, which has sparked concerns about an alarming increase of such incidents in the community.

Also read: BAFDT encourages community to get help through their support group

Audrey Anderson, founder of BAFDT, said she has been receiving pleas for help more frequently.

Issues with bullying 

“School bullying is not simply a part of growing up. It has, in fact, become a serious violation of children’s rights, their safety and their fundamental dignity,” she said. 

According to Anderson, the issue seemed to run deeper than just the school environment itself. She often pointed to various challenges within homes and communities as significant contributing factors.

“The decline in discipline, the removal of corporal punishment and a gradual erosion of respect, morals and core values have all contributed to what we see as a decay within our homes, our schools and society at large. Bullying, more often than not, stems from what children are exposed to at home. Children tend to do what they see, rather than what they are explicitly taught. Parents, in essence, serve as their children’s mirrors,” said Anderson. 

Also read: Bullying at nursery school

She also emphasised that children’s exposure to negative behaviours within their communities further reinforce these harmful patterns among young people.

Types of bullying

Anderson highlighted that bullying takes many different forms, namely verbal abuse, physical aggression, emotional manipulation, social exclusion, sexual harassment and even cyberbullying. 

“Far too many schools are failing in their responsibility to protect victims. This failure is directly contributing to a rise in learners leaving school prematurely and, in some dire cases, to suicides. There is a serious lack of accountability that needs to be addressed,” said Anderson. 

Putting plans in place

To counter this, she urged immediate action, advocating for a multi-pronged approach that included widespread awareness campaigns, the implementation of more robust anti-bullying policies and a significantly increased level of community participation.

“Learners need to find the courage to break their silence. Bystanders must speak out and expose bullying whenever they see it. We need to stop normalising this behaviour. Parents have a crucial role in addressing these issues within their homes, and schools must implement and rigorously enforce anti-bullying policies that hold perpetrators accountable for their action,” she said. 

Contact

BAFDT is calling on parents and schools, to help protect learners’ lives. Contact Audrey Anderson on 081 431 7458 for more information.

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