It is known that especially in recent years, the phenomenon of school violence and delinquency has taken on alarming proportions. Less known, however, is perhaps the fact that such incidents are recorded to an alarming extent in Primary Education, despite the young age of the children. Mainly in primary schools, incidents are recorded that sound the alarm, with teachers who live in the school units every day expressing concern. Some of them admit that they have been victims of violence by their students, not only verbal but also physical. A situation that removes safety from the school environment, which in some cases is not ideal, neither for teachers nor for students.
The above, and not only, are some of the data that have emerged from a survey by POED, which was conducted between March 30 and April 8, with the participation of 1,017 primary school teachers.
Specifically, the research finds the following:
1. The frequency of occurrence of the various forms of violence between students is stated as frequent to very frequent as follows:
>> Verbal violence (according to 63% of teachers).
>> Physical violence (according to 59% of teachers).
>> Vandalism (according to 31% of teachers).
>> Online violence (according to 13% of teachers).
2. Frequent to very frequent violence against teachers:
>>29% report inappropriate behaviour towards a teacher.
>> 12% state threats of physical violence towards a teacher.
>> 9% report physical violence towards a teacher.
3. Based on the above:
>> 95% of teachers state that incidents of school violence and delinquency have increased.
>> 55% of teachers do not always feel safe in the workplace.
>> 53% of teachers believe that school is not always a safe place for children.
4. The effect of school violence and delinquency on the quality of teaching and on teaching/extracurricular time:
>>65% state that they have experienced behaviours that disrupt teaching, significantly affecting its quality.
>> 26% say they spend 6-10 minutes and 28% spend more than 10 minutes of teaching time every 40 minutes managing such incidents.
>> One in four teachers (26.6%) dedicates almost a period (and/or more) of extracurricular time (per day) exclusively to the management of such incidents.
5. Support received by teachers to deal with the phenomenon:
>>62% say they are satisfied with the support they receive from the school management.
>> 58% say they are satisfied with the support they receive from their colleagues.
>> 17% say they are satisfied with the support they receive from officials and services of the Ministry of Education.
>> 14% say they are satisfied with the support they receive from their parents.
>> 8% say they are satisfied with the support they receive from the Welfare Office.
6. Main factors that strengthen school violence and delinquency:
>>Lack of support from the family (83%).
>> Reckless use of technology at home (78%).
>> Lack of ability to take substantial measures against delinquency (76%).
>> Family – financial problems (75%).
>> Degradation of the prestige of teachers and lack of respect (73%).
>> Influence of social media/internet (69%).
>> Lack of specialized staff (e.g. psychologists, social workers) (54%).
Exhausted teachers and thoughts of leaving
Another, equally important element that the POED survey has shown, is how teachers experience this prevailing situation.
Specifically, despite the fact that 58% of the teachers surveyed answered that they feel (often to very often) satisfaction at work and that 64% feel (often to very often) that it has a positive effect on the lives of their students, however, 65% stated that they feel (often to very often) exhausted from work, 60% feel (often to very often) that they will not last until retirement and 28% are thinking (often to very often) of leaving the teaching profession due to the phenomenon of school violence and delinquency.
POED: A holistic approach is needed
According to the teachers' organization, the phenomenon cannot be addressed with fragmented measures but requires a holistic and systematic approach, with timely and substantial intervention of all co-competent services. The recommendations of the POED for dealing with school violence and delinquency are summarized in eight pillars:
1. Upgrading of the school environment and school operation.
2. Emphasis on cultivating social and emotional skills.
3. Targeted support for vulnerable students.
4. Modernization of legislation.
5. Strengthening of support structures.
6. Collaborations and multi-level mechanisms.
7. Professional development and empowerment of teachers.
8. Defending and strengthening the prestige of teachers.
It is worth noting that at the same time, the organization has drafted a detailed document, which is the Unified Demanding Framework for the Prevention of School Violence and Delinquency, a proposal which it has already submitted to the Ministry of Education. This focuses on the substantial shielding of school units and the protection of the educational community, with particular emphasis on the need for prevention and management to start as early as preschool age.
Ten days of awareness
The POED, starting with the publication of this survey, is launching a ten-day series of actions aimed at raising awareness of this issue that concerns schools and society in general. As it states, the organization "the main goal of the whole effort is to inform and raise awareness of public opinion, but also to put pressure on the official Authority to take substantial measures to prevent and manage the phenomenon. The State must assume its responsibilities by investing in targeted policies and substantial measures, which will contribute substantially to the support of the Public School."
The ten-day event includes a variety of activities at school, provincial and pan-Cypriot level. Indicatively, the following are noted: In-school symbolic actions (e.g. "The yard says NO TO VIOLENCE", "Human Chain: Circle of Protection"), public information stations in central parts of the cities (distribution of information material, activities for children, etc.), symbolic football matches between the football teams of POED and other bodies, with the slogan: "Red card to school violence and delinquency" and hiking on a nature trail with the slogan: "We walk together: Violence off the beaten track".
