While there is public and political consensus on the need to safeguard the physical and psychological welfare of students while at school, little is known about which South African students are at ris

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• The effects of bullying on teaching and learning in the foundation phase (2026) · doi

  Although this research offered beneficial information, it encountered certain challenges, including a limited quantity of samples and circumstances. The research focused on only two schools in a specific location, which may inaccurately represent the conditions of all Foundation Phase schools across South Africa. The findings may be irrelevant to urban schools, schools with ample funding, or private educational institutions. The observations were conducted over three weeks, which might have overlooked the evolution of bullying patterns or variations in children behaviour and teacher responses over a more extended timeframe. Teachers and children might have changed their answers or not shared the truth because they were scared of being judged, unfair treatment, or of pressure from the school, especially when talking about how the school is run and about bullying. Some younger children had difficulty expressing their thoughts clearly. This made it difficult to gather detailed information from the children. 366 Murungwa & Agnes, International Journal of Research in Business & Social Science 15(3) (2026), 359-368

  Keywords: schools children information bullying school offered beneficial encountered certain challenges including limited quantity samples circumstances
• The effects of bullying on teaching and learning in the foundation phase (2026) · doi

  The paper suggests that improving support from schools by getting leaders involved and giving special training to help people deal with bullying and emotional stress and setting up rules and programs in schools to prevent bullying that help both children and teachers, and establishing rules and initiatives in schools aimed at preventing bullying while supporting both children and teachers. The Department of Basic Education needs to fund initiatives aimed at addressing bullying among FP children and ensure that the assessment tools utilise are appropriate for children in Grades R to 3. Additional research is required. The researchers suggest conducting larger studies over a longer time to see how burnout and bullying affect each other and to check how well certain strategies work in South African schools.

  Keywords: bullying schools children help rules teachers initiatives aimed suggests improving support getting leaders involved giving
• The effects of discrete contextual variables on «bullying» in the schoolyard (2010) · doi

  In spite of the abundance of scientific literature that exists on bullying in schools, few studies have focused on the effects, both separate and combined, caused by contextual structural variables, such as geographical space, the municipal district, family, school, gender, male hegemonic culture, and exposure to the mass media.

  Keywords: spite abundance scientific literature exists bullying schools focused effects separate combined caused contextual structural variables
• Incidencia de variables contextuales discretas en la violencia "bullying" en el recinto escolar (2002)

  In spite of the wealth of scientific literature that exists on the subject of bullying in schools, resulting from the interaction therein, few studies have focused on the effects, both seperate and combined, caused by contextual structural variables, such as geographicas space, the municipal district, family, school, gender, male chauvinist culture, and exposure to the mass meida.

  Keywords: spite wealth scientific literature exists subject bullying schools resulting interaction therein focused effects seperate combined
• At risk: Age, gender, and socio-economic status in bullying victimisation among South African primary school students (2025) · doi

  While there is public and political consensus on the need to safeguard the physical and psychological welfare of students while at school, little is known about which South African students are at risk of exposure to bullying, or the nature and extent of bullying in primary schools.

  Keywords: students bullying there public political consensus need safeguard physical psychological welfare school little known south