School management team strategies to curb bullying in Mafeteng Secondary Schools for effective teaching and learning
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Date
2023-07
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Abstract
Lately, learners show different negative emotional and behavioural changes in
schools due to bullying. These bullying incidences have affected learners‟
performance and attendance at school. Some learners have resorted to dropping out
of school because of fear of being bullied. This study explores strategies that School
Management Teams could use to curb bullying for effective teaching and learning
because School Management Team is the administrative team in the school
responsible for daily running of the school. The collection of data was done using
qualitative approach employing a case study design as it allowed the researcher to
gain deeper first-hand information about the extent of bullying in schools. Data was
then analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty six purposively selected participants
were interviewed.
The findings of the study show that learners go through different types of bullying
because of socio-economic backgrounds, gender orientation, ethnicity and other
differentiation factors. They also reveal that physical and verbal bullying are the most
common types of bullying. Moreover, the findings also reveal that in some schools,
victims are not supported while in others they are counseled and perpetrators
punished. Participants also showed that in order to curb bullying, perpetrators should
be expelled while other participants were of the view that they should be suspendedas that will give them time to reflect on their actions. The study recommends to the
Ministry of Education and Training development of clear policies that address
bullying with the aim to help SMTs and create favourable teaching and learning
environments. Additionally, the study recommends that SMTs should also develop
school-based policies that address bullying
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Keywords
Bullying, curb, school management, effective, teaching, learning