BULLYING AND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigated bullying and public secondary school students’ academic achievement in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. The rate at which bullying is been perpetrated in schools on a daily basis is alarming and worrisome. It is a big threat that should not be handled with levity. The population for this study comprised all public secondary school students in Ido Local Government, Oyo State. The sample consisted of 120 students from 5 randomly selected schools. A questionnaire tagged ‘Bullying and Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Students Questionnaire’ was used to collect relevant data for the study. The study revealed that students who experience bullying tend to perform poorly academically, exhibit social integration problems, and struggle with classmate relationships. Based on the findings, it was recommended that counselling psychologists and allied professionals should endeavour to sensitize the government, school owners and public on the benefits of positive school climate and family cohesion in reducing bullying in the school system. Also, bullying may be reduced through anti-bullying programs in schools that serve to raise awareness of the problem. Lastly, cordial relationship should be established at homes among the siblings and between the parents and their children as this will go a long way in raising children with high social competence skills as well as promoting healthy relationship that fosters friendliness in school setting rather than bullying among the students