A quarter of students in Cyprus admits to being a victim of bullying, both within the school context and online, indicating a distressing escalation of this issue over the past three years, said “Hope for Children” CRC Policy Center in a statement issued on Wednesday, on the occasion the International Day Against Bullying on March 6th.
As part of the ongoing National Strategy for Prevention and Management of School Violence (2018-2024), a comprehensive research study has been conducted to analyze the prevalence of school violence in Cyprus.
The latest findings from this longitudinal study, which was supervised by University of Cyprus psychology professor Kostas Fantis, spanning from 2019 to 2024, unveiled in October 2023, revealed that 1 in 4 students admits to being a victim of bullying, both within the school context and online, indicating a distressing escalation of this issue over the past three years.
Key highlights from the research include the continued observation by over 95% of educators of instances of violence among students, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the issue within school settings.
Additionally, it reveals that 1 in 5 teenagers falls victim to cyberbullying, aligning with broader European data on digital harassment. Moreover, the research indicates that one in ten children experiences marginalization, further emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms. Surprisingly, more than half of students adopt a passive bystander role during incidents of school violence, with only 18% actively defending or comforting victims. These findings underscore the critical imperative to address and combat school bullying effectively.
