Parents, educators call for anti-bullying intervention in schools

AMMAN — The prevalence of bullying in local schools has evoked reactions from educators and parents, who are calling for anti-bullying intervention in schools.

“Ending school bullying is a hard thing to achieve, because it is a persistent issue that is found everywhere,” Jordanian life coach and family adviser Shayma Awad told The Jordan Times.

The first step to address bullying is establishing a clear and comprehensive bullying response mechanism, Awad said.

“Talking openly with our children is key to ensuring that our children understand what it really means. That way, they become more comfortable telling us what they experience with their peers,” she added.

According to UNICEF’s definition of the issue, school bullying is a pattern of behaviour in which children who bully typically come from a background of perceived higher social status or a position of power, such as children who are bigger, stronger, or perceived to be popular. 

“Boys are more likely to experience physical bullying, while girls are more likely to experience psychological bullying,” according to UNICEF.

Nada Omar, a mother of two, told The Jordan Times on Monday that she is “not sure” why bullying is on the rise. However, she believes that children today are more aware and familiar with the concept, so they have become more comfortable in reporting it.

“Many students said that they had been bullied in my daughter’s school. It is a sad reality, but the positive part that our children are aware,” Omar said.

Khloud Efishat, an Arabic language teacher, said that bullying can significantly impact a student’s academic performance, causing a sudden drop in grades. “Bullying happens in every school, but our role as educators is to keep up with what students are doing. The moment we sense something is wrong, we must share the details with the parents,” Efishat told The Jordan Times.

Bullying in general creates a “hostile social environment”, and in schools, it can lead to a child’s withdrawal from social activities, according to sociologist Hussein Al Khozahe.

“The culture of bullying in schools is increasingly becoming obvious in our country and elsewhere, and the solution begins in our homes… we need to make sure that our children know what is acceptable and what is not,” Khozahe said.