School, number of assaults falls but alarm remains: bullying and violence against teachers

In the field, some initiatives of schools are registered. Such as the "organic legislation on cyberbullying that has imposed educational and preventive interventions on schools, not just punitive ones, has provided for a reference teacher in each school, the obligation for us school managers to intervene and inform families, the possibility of requesting the removal of online content, and the warning of the police commissioner in the most serious cases". Not only: 'Today, specific programmes and platforms are in place to monitor the phenomenon and train teachers. Awareness-raising campaigns are organised on a national level,' he adds. 'Recently Law 70/2024 included the obligation for each school to adopt an internal anti-bullying code and the updating of discipline regulations and co-responsibility pacts'.

There is not only repression but also prevention, which is implemented with 'emotional and relational education projects, aimed at teaching students respect and conflict management'. "Psychological counters and mentoring, coaching and peer tutoring courses have also been set up, in which the students themselves become promoters of positive behaviour," the headmistress adds. "These tools were initially financed with funds linked to the Covid emergency and, subsequently, with PNRR resources dedicated to combating school drop-out. What is required today, however, is a structured and stable presence of the psychologist at school. Teachers, in fact, are the figures who spend the most time with pupils and are often able to detect the first signs of distress; however, the support of a specialist is essential'.

In Europe, one in six adolescents claim to have been subjected to violence or cyberbullying (WHO European Office for Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report). Taking a close look at the phenomenon in which there is bullying but there are also incidents of violence against teachers and school staff is Maura Manca, forensic psychologist.

'I have known young people for thirty years,' the psychologist says, 'and I see a structural and radical change that has to be taken into account. When there were no mobile phones, the alarms were the addiction to video games and TV,' she adds. 'Certainly the most worrying thing today is the speed. We have changes that have surged so fast that they prevent children from metabolising the evolutionary stages. There is no possibility of readjustment, and for the education system to try to put band-aids on when there is a bleed, there is no solution. What is needed is a radical change on the part of the system'. Not forgetting artificial intelligence and degenerations such as 'acts of self-harm that are increasing'. For the psychologist it is necessary 'to work on trainers and interventions that have an impact on so many schools'.

In Spain there is a growing perception of increased violence in schools, especially against teachers. According to a study by the STEs-i trade union, based on more than 13,000 questionnaires, 83.15 per cent of teachers report an increase in verbal aggression, which in some cases escalates into physical violence.

This figure contrasts with official international surveys (OECD-Talis), which indicate much lower percentages, between 3% and 6%. The trade unions dispute these figures, which they consider 'unrealistic' because they only take into account the formally reported incidents and not the daily climate in the classrooms.

Family factors also emerge among the causes: not only difficult contexts, but also 'functional' families in which the lack of parental time results in excessive permissiveness and lack of limits.

In Austria, incidents of serious violence in schools remain rare. The most extreme case was the shooting in Graz, an isolated event but one of the most serious in the history of the country.

Bullying among students is more widespread. According to international surveys, about one in five students claim to be bullied on a regular basis, while cyberbullying is on the rise especially since the pandemic.

On the disciplinary front, the number of school suspensions for violent behaviour is growing. From 2026, however, these measures will be accompanied by educational and psychological interventions to foster the reintegration of students, a sign of an approach that aims not only at sanction but also at prevention.

In Poland, bullying appears to be particularly widespread: 62% of students say they have experienced it at least occasionally, while 4% experience it on a daily basis.

The data show strong unease: 30% of students do not like going to school, 11% do not feel safe and almost a third have no reference figures. The growing trend of silence is also striking: the share of young people who do not report violence has risen from 32.4% in 2020 to 47% in 2024.

According to experts, bullying is also fuelled by group dynamics: the aggressor obtains attention and consent, turning violence into a form of 'social recognition'.

In Lithuania, cases of physical violence in schools do exist but remain episodic; the main problem is bullying, which affects around 35 per cent of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17.

Particularly relevant is cyberbullying, which affects around 27% of young people, one of the highest rates in Europe. The phenomenon appears stable over time, a sign of a structural rather than an emergency criticality.

The authorities have adopted a prevention-centred approach: educational programmes, teacher training, anonymous reporting systems and involvement of the entire school community. The aim is to intervene early and to strengthen cooperation between schools and families.

Something, however, is moving. On 31 March, the National Observatory on School Staff Safety was set up and began its work. The body has the task of monitoring episodes of violence against school personnel, promoting good practices and proposing guidelines to the Administration for the prevention and reduction of risks. "The body', says Silvia Messori, a member representing trade unions, 'includes 27 representatives from as many organisations and institutions. Now we will have to work to understand both the state of the art, through the collection and study of data, and then outline the paths necessary to intervene, also indicating the priorities that will affect the sector'.

*This article is part of the European collaborative journalism project "Pulse"