Perceived Causes And Effects Of Bullying In Primary School Pupils In Bodinga Local Government Area, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of bullying among primary school pupils in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The study was guided by three objectives. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised teachers in primary schools in Bodinga LGA and a total of 340 respondents were selected through random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection and data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The findings of the study revealed that teachers perceive bullying to be prevalent among primary school pupils in Bodinga LGA. On causes, lack of discipline accounting for 38.8 percent and poor parenting accounting for 34.1 percent were identified as the major causes of bullying, while modelling, poor emotional intelligence, jealousy and poor supervision were other causes. On effects, physical injury accounting for 35.3 percent was the major effect, followed by poor academic performance accounting for 18.2 percent, poor relationship accounting for 16.5 percent, destruction of properties accounting for 12.4 percent, truancy accounting for 9.4 percent and depression accounting for 8.2 percent. On strategies for curbing bullying, guidance and counselling accounting for 37.1 percent and proper supervision accounting for 29.4 percent were identified as the most effective strategies, while good parenting, sensitization, good classroom management and positive reinforcement were also identified as strategies. The study concluded that bullying has serious physical, academic, social and psychological effects on primary school pupils in Bodinga LGA and that it is caused mainly by lack of discipline and poor parenting. The study recommended that guidance and counselling units should be strengthened in all primary schools, teachers and school authorities should ensure proper supervision and enforcement of discipline, parents should improve parenting practices and government should organize regular sensitization programmes on the dangers of bullying in primary schools.