School bullying is becoming a problem throughout the world. It is deemed necessary that schools become safer environments for teaching and learning to take place. This study focused specifically on the impact of bullying, educationally and psychologically, on primary school learners. In the literature review conducted, research studies showed that learners were clearly affected by bullying. An empirical investigation, which included four individual sessions and a focus group session, was undertaken to determine what the effects of bullying were on the victims. Transcriptions were made of all the interviews and the data was then analysed to determine what the main themes were. The investigation concluded that bullying does affect learners educationally and psychologically. Based on the results, guidelines were provided for schools, parents, educators and the Department of Education. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

School bullying is becoming a problem throughout the world. It is deemed necessary that schools become safer environments for teaching and learning to take place. This study focused specifically on the impact of bullying, educationally and psychologically, on primary school learners. In the literature review conducted, research studies showed that learners were clearly affected by bullying. An empirical investigation, which included four individual sessions and a focus group session, was undertaken to determine what the effects of bullying were on the victims. Transcriptions were made of all the interviews and the data was then analysed to determine what the main themes were. The investigation concluded that bullying does affect learners educationally and psychologically. Based on the results, guidelines were provided for schools, parents, educators and the Department of Education. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study investigated the severity of bullying perpetration in secondary schools in the Uthungulu District of KwaZulu-Natal. The study further sought to establish the various types of bullying that were rife in secondary schools, the factors that contributed to bullying perpetration and the negative impact of bullying behaviour on all stakeholders of the school system. An in-depth literature study was conducted in this regard. Accordingly, various theories relevant to the phenomenon were explored exhaustively. A qualitative research design and methodology was employed to investigate the phenomenon through interviews with participants from five secondary schools, including the circuit manager of the circuit concerned. Strict ethical principles were adhered to throughout and the study was also evaluated for reliability and validity. The study found that the factors that contributed considerably to the problem of bullying in secondary schools were embedded at the level of the family, the school and the community. In addition, the study established that the impact of bullying was so severe that it affected the day- to- day functioning of the school from a management perspective where a considerable amount of time was spent managing the problem, substantially reducing valuable teaching time. The impact was also felt significantly among victims who experienced low self-esteem, humiliation, embarrassment and palpable levels of stress and anxiety that ultimately led to appreciable rates of absenteeism, truancy, dropping out of school, transfers to other schools, ill-health, depression and even suicide. On the basis of the findings of the literature study and the empirical investigation, a model to curb bullying was developed, which required all stakeholders of the secondary schools in the Uthungulu District of KwaZulu-Natal to work collectively as a team to manage the problem effectively and efficiently. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Educational Management)