A strategy to combat bullying in primary schools in the Osizweni Circuit

[摘要] English: The aim of this study is to formulate a strategy to combat bullying in primary schools in the Osizweni Circuit in the Amajuba District.This study was initiatedby the increase in cases of bullying in South African primary schools. Bullying can be described as unfair or adverse conduct by an aggressor towards a victim, which includes harmful actions, such as name-calling, inflicting pain, pulling faces and making threats. Primary schoolsareregarded as institutionsthat provide academic education to children from Grade R to 7. The appropriate theoretical framework to couch this study is Ubuntu because it emphasises the emancipation and empowerment of the oppressed, and maintaining and strengthening the community. The study uses participatory action research as a qualitative enquiry methodology.The following people constitute the team of participants for co-research: one circuit manager, one Special Needs Education Services senior education specialist, one principal, two teachers, two parents, two learners who are victims of bullying, two learners engaged in bullying and other stakeholders. The other stakeholders included a representative of the South African Police Services (SAPS), a local councillor and a social development representative. The datacollected were audio-taped with the consent of the co-researchers, and transcribed and analysed to give meaning and structure to the data. The data were analysed using critical discourse analysis at the textual, discursive and social structure levels. The findings of the study determined whether the intervention was successful or not. This study will help to combat bullying in South African primary schools.

[发布机构] University of the Free State