Filipino students are the most exposed to bullying and they are also ranked the lowest in reading and second to the lowest in Science and Mathematics among 79 countries.
These sad facts were revealed by Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, citing a 2018 global education survey by the Program for International Student Assessment.
Gatchalian called on the Department of Education to strictly enforce and monitor anti-bullying measures in schools, reiterating the need for child protection since the passage of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.
The survey found out that 65 percent of Filipino high school students experience bullying “at least a few times a month.”
This is way beyond the 23 percent average among 79 countries that joined the survey, Gatchalian said.
Conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, the survey also said that both aggressors and victims of bullying tend to skip classes, show poorer academic performance, and drop out of school.
Students who reported being threatened scored 56 points lower in Reading compared to those who had no or less frequent experiences. The study also showed that students whose peers made fun of them scored 13 points lower than those who experienced this less frequently.
Countering the prevalence of bullying should be part of efforts to reverse the Philippines’ dismal PISA performance, Gatchalian said, pointing out the study’s findings and how bullying affects academic performance.
“Kailangang tignan natin ang kabuuang larawan kung bakit pinakamababa ang ating mga mag-aaral sa PISA. Kung susuriin nating mabuti ang pag-aaral na ito, lumalabas na isa sa mga dahilan ang bullying kung bakit nahuhuli ang ating mga mag-aaral,” he added.
“Nitong mga nakaraang araw, malakas ang panawagan na i-angat ang kalidad ng edukasyon ngunit upang magawa natin ito, kailangang masiguro nating ligtas ang ating mga paaralan upang matuto nang husto ang ating mga mag-aaral,” he said.
One of the most effective ways to prevent bullying is through bystander’s intervention, PISA said. (Mario Casayuran)