This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
Kenya's education system has been marred by a persistent problem of bullying, with the Ministry of Education recently releasing a report that confirms the widespread nature of this menace.
According to the report, some incidents of bullying have resulted in death, while others have caused severe injuries, including brain damage. The problem persists despite strict enforcement of policies aimed at making schools safer for all learners.
Kenya's ranking among African countries where bullying is prevalent is a disturbing reality that has thrust the country into a list of shame. In 2017, a survey led by the US Centers for Disease Control established that Kenya is among the worst countries in this regard.
Statistics from the National Education Sector Strategic Plan 2018-2022 reveal that 57 percent of all students are bullied on one or more days in a month. This is one of the serious problems that schools have to grapple with today, including drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, and disappearances linked to recruitment into extremist organizations.
Recent incidents, such as the brutal assault of a 15-year-old student in a Nairobi school, have brought the grim reality of bullying to the fore. The culprits in this case were prefects, highlighting the glaring inadequacies of a system that has complemented teachers' efforts to enforce discipline.
Another heart-rending incident was the reported suicide of a 14-year-old girl after she was humiliated by her teacher in front of her fellow students for soiling her uniform during menstruation.
Research by the African Mental Health Foundation found that secondary schools experience high levels of bullying that affect self-esteem and individual academic performance. In a study conducted in public secondary schools in Nairobi, between 63 percent and 82 percent of students interviewed said they had suffered one form or another of bullying.
Students reported being victims of theft, physical abuse, and humiliation, with some missing classes, avoiding school events, playing truant, or dropping out as a result of the bullying.
However, it is possible to stamp out the vice if education officers, school heads, teachers, non-teaching staff, students, and parents collaborate to fight it.
