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Can you hear us? Learners call for safe and inclusive schools
Too many children worldwide experience violence in and around schools: almost one in three learners has been physically attacked at least once during the school year and one in ten experiences cyberbullying. The impacts can be devastating – affecting the well-being, education outcomes and the quality of life of learners.
UNESCO puts learners and children at the forefront every day. Watch the short videos in which children and young people tell us what they need to make schools safer.
Here’s what children and young people have to say.
What would a safe school look like to you?
Teiko, 11, Ghana: I would want to see a school where everyone is respected and accepted. For example, a girl must not be laughed at by the boys. If everybody is accepted and respected, nobody will tease or talk down on the other and we will all have peace of mind to learn and be happy to attend school every day.
Nicole*, 15, Colombia: For me, a safe school is a place of peace and harmony, where we live without fear of violence or judgment.
Michelle, 11, Zambia: A safe school is where you have kind friends and kind teachers. A school where your friends encourage you to be who you are and where your teachers love and care for you.
Victoria, 19, Nigeria: A safe school for me is where I am not afraid of any teacher – it is a place where if a teacher treats me badly, the government can punish the teacher.
Caroline, 9, British Isles: It is where there is no bullying and people respect each other and their opinions. It is also letting each other play and feel included in games and being kind, a place where there are always friends and people you can trust.
What would you need to feel safer at school? What can your school/teachers/leaders do?
Tseten, 17, Nepal: We need courage to speak up and stop bullying. To make schools safer, every school should have a psychologist, and there should be no corporal punishment.
Rejoice, 20, Namibia: I would need consistent support systems, like a counselor and regular check-ins from teachers who understand my needs. This would help me focus more on studies without feeling anxious, and improve academically.
Mariama*, 17, Senegal: An increased security presence, such as visible security guards in the school. Secondly, regular training for staff and learners on emergency management, so that everyone knows what to do in the event of a problem.
Hilaru, 10, Cameroon: I would need teachers to respond to concerns seriously, with understanding and respect and strict school rules that peers must respect on bullying.
Jeeranan, 19, Thailand: We need to stop normalizing bullying and create a culture built on respect, kindness and empathy. Firstly, we can start by talking about it. When we listen to each other we start learning how our words and actions impact each other.
How could violence at school impact your learning?
Shebab*, 16, Syrian Arab Republic: I was bullied until I reached ninth grade, which made me leave school. When I first enrolled, I was very happy and I was one of the top students, but when I was exposed to bullying, my grades dropped.
Dhriti, 16, India: I have seen the devastating impacts bullying can have: it can lead to trust issues, it can affect academic performance and mental health. We have to treat others with empathy and kindness and have full-scale consequences for bullying behaviour.
Mimi*, 15, Mali: Feeling protected helps me to perform better at school and learn more every day. As a girl, it allows me to continue my studies at university.
Rozaria, 12, Zambia: It would make me love school and never miss it because I know I would find my lovely teachers and could concentrate on my studying.
Khun, 22, Thailand: In our region, one in three learners report being bullied and there is real pain for countless young people who feel isolated. When schools foster an atmosphere of fear, learning is meaningless, and our potential is stifled.
What do you wish to tell leaders?
Khadija, Nigeria: I call on world leaders to do whatever it is they can do to provide funding, laws and policies that will protect children and ensure education for every child.
Laura, 7, Portugal: I wish we didn't need to have more police, and that leaders and schools taught more people to be kind and follow the rules, so that there was no one harming each other and so all children could be happy and safe.
Innocent*, 19, Namibia: I urge leaders to prioritize creating safe and inclusive school environments through comprehensive anti-bullying policies, education programmes and support services. Leaders need to actively listen to learners’ concerns, take swift action against bullying behaviours and provide resources for both prevention and intervention.
Mardiya, 10, Ghana: There are too many activities just behind the school walls. I feel scared and sometimes shy when I am coming to school. I would want [leaders] to regulate the school surroundings especially with the mechanics and vendors.
Chanatip, 20, Thailand: As a pre-service teacher, I call upon our leaders to protect, educate and empower us to ensure our schools are sanctuaries of growth free from violence and bullying.
UNESCO is committed to supporting governments and partners in accelerating progress toward safe and inclusive education systems and will continue to:
- Strengthen the mental health and psychosocial support framework in the context of violence prevention.
- Advocate for gender-transformative approaches and address the gendered dimensions of school violence.
- Support teachers and educators, who play a critical role in creating and maintaining safe, inclusive learning environments.
*Names have been changed for safeguarding purposes.
This collection of testimonies was made possible thanks to the remarkable mobilization of regional and national colleagues, and partners on the ground for the 2024 International Day against violence and bullying at school, including cyberbullying. The theme Protect, educate, empower: A call by learners for safe and inclusive schools, highlighted learners’ perspectives and voice, and underlined the role of education in ending violence.
