“Bullying is a reality at our schools,” says Avril Daniels, Western Cape Education (WCED) Circuit Manager in Vredenburg.
Daniels says it is one of the challenges schools are still facing today, and it needs to be managed.
Bullying comes in all shapes and forms, whether it be emotional, physical, online or verbal. It is when someone is hurt repeatedly in one of the above forms by someone else. Children often develop low self-esteem, suffer academically, become depressed and withdraw from society.
Millicent Merton, a spokesperson for the WCED, says the department is aware of bullying, but many of these cases go unreported.
The issue of bullying and anti-social behaviour is addressed in schools throughout the year.
“The WCED has initiated a number of programmes and steps to assist schools in addressing this issue in an ongoing initiative.”
She adds the WCED also constantly promotes Safe Schools hotline, which offers counselling support and advice to learners and parents as well as a mechanism for reporting such behaviour for further investigation.
Daniels cannot reiterate enough that victims of bullying should not keep quiet and should report it.
“Children should report this conduct to their teacher and principal who they trust,” he said. “But it is also the principal’s responsibility to take action and report back to parents.”
He adds that the bully also needs help and that this behaviour could spring out of underlying issues or be a cry for help.
Merton says the WCED offers help for both victim and bully. The department liaises within with Safe Schools to supplement the services from the WCED, employing psychologists and social workers, engaging inter-sectorally with the Department of Health, Social Development and NGOs.
Daniels says bullying is a serious offence, but help is available.
Contact WCED SAFE SCHOOLS Call-Centre 0800 45 46 47 for immediate support. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group offers a 24-hour HELPLINE, contact 0800 12 13 14.
