Concern expressed over results of young Life & Times Survey - Donaldson
A Young Life and Times Survey carried out by Northern Ireland’s two universities has found that almost 30% of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland were bullied at school within a two month period. Reacting to the report, Kenny Donaldson, Ulster Unionist Party Assembly candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone has described the findings as, “deeply disturbing but not entirely surprising.”
In a statement, Kenny said: “The report’s findings make for grim reading however I am all too well aware from personal experience that bullying is a serious problem within our Schools. What the bullies do not seem to understand is that their actions can have life-changing impact upon their victim.
“Bullying is a problem throughout our society, whether in Schools, the workplace or indeed in civic life. There are obviously multiple forms of bullying; physical, verbal name-calling and psychological are amongst the weapons used by aggressors.
“I believe the Education system and individual Schools must do more to combat bullying within the School and its’ associated after-Schools activities. Bullying policies have been found to be effective in combatting the scourge of bullying and I would call upon School Boards of Governors to give the issue of bullying the attention it deserves. No child or young person should feel threatened or unhappy at School – quite the reverse, School life should be where young people are afforded a positive climate in which to express themselves and develop.”
Kenny continued: “It is worth noting that bullying within Schools isn’t confined to pupils, the Irish National Teachers Organisation has claimed there has been a 10-fold increase in the bullying of teachers in recent years. I support the INTO’s call for a commitment by the Department of Education and employers to give support to teachers. If this is not achieved and teachers are not given the protection they deserve, dozens will leave the sector and that is something our education system can ill afford,”concluded Kenny.