What you need to know about ending violence in and through education

What is violence in education?

School violence is widespread and affects both learners and education personnel. Globally, one billion children aged from 2 to 17 experience some form of violence each year. This manifests in various forms: physical, psychological or sexual. It can include gender-based violence, bullying and cyberbullying and can extend beyond individual acts to systemic and institutional violence.

Institutional violence occurs when discriminatory policies or biased practices within the education system disadvantage specific groups. For example, policies that limit access to quality education or disproportionally punish learners based on gender, disability, or social background contribute to violence in education.

Understanding violence in education also requires acknowledging the influence of harmful social norms, which can normalize certain forms of violence, and external factors, such as community or societal violence, that spill over into schools. For instance, gang violence or armed conflict may disrupt the safety of the learning environment and exacerbate cycles of fear and insecurity. This complex interplay highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address violence, not only at the school level but also in the broader educational framework.

How does violence in education impact learning and beyond?

Violence in education not only disrupts learning but also has ripple effects that extend far beyond the classroom.

All forms of violence in education hinder learning: Children who experience violence in all its forms often struggle with concentration and cognitive development. This leads to lower academic performance, absenteeism, and, in many cases, dropping out of school altogether. Studies show that learners exposed to violence are more likely to have poorer outcomes in critical areas like literacy and mathematics, with long-term effects on their ability to succeed academically and professionally.

Experiencing violence leads to significant psychological and mental distress: Children facing violence often experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which can persist into adulthood. The strain on mental health can severely hinder their capacity to form healthy relationships and participate fully in society. Those who experience sexual violence, in particular, may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other severe psychological conditions, limiting their potential and opportunities later in life.

In many settings, school-related sexual violence can lead to early and unplanned pregnancies, forcing girls out of school: This has lifelong consequences: cutting short education, economic opportunities, and perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. In regions where comprehensive sexuality education and support mechanisms are lacking, the effects of such violence are even more devastating.

Teachers' well-being and effectiveness in teaching, too, are deeply affected by violence in schools: Approximately 80% of teachers report experiencing some form of violence, from verbal abuse to physical assaults. This leads to high levels of stress, burnout and reduced job satisfaction, which in turn impacts the quality of education they can provide. When teachers are demotivated or feel unsafe, the entire learning environment suffers.

The costs of violence in education are also economic: Loss in learning and lower academic performance translate into diminished earning potential for individuals over their lifetimes. On a larger scale, it can stunt national economic growth, as less-educated workforces are less productive. Violence in education is a barrier to achieving the long-term benefits of investing in education, which is vital for the development and prosperity of societies.

What are the causes of violence in education?

The drivers of violence in education are diverse and complex, influenced by societal, institutional, and interpersonal factors.

At the societal level, violence in schools is often a reflection of broader social issues such as poverty, armed conflict and gang violence. In many regions, external violence from communities can spill into schools, disrupting the learning environment and contributing to a culture of fear and insecurity. For example, in Latin America and the Caribbean, up to 45% of learners experience bullying, and these acts are often linked to the broader issue of organized crime and community violence.

At the institutional level, violence is perpetuated by harmful gender norms, discriminatory policies and an inadequate school climate. Schools may fail to address gender-based violence, allowing it to persist through inadequate reporting mechanisms or insufficient support for victims. For example, learners with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTIQ+) are disproportionately targeted by bullying and harassment, often because schools lack policies to protect these vulnerable groups.

At the interpersonal level, violence is driven by power imbalances, harmful social and gender norms and inadequate conflict resolution mechanisms within schools. Children who experience violence at home or in their communities are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors in school, perpetuating cycles of violence.

How can we leverage the transformative power of education to end violence?

Education has the power to not only prevent violence but also transform societies by fostering safe, inclusive, and supportive environments.

To truly harness this transformative potential, a holistic approach is needed where violence prevention is integrated into all aspects of schooling, from policies and teacher training to curriculum design and reporting mechanisms. At UNESCO, fostering safe learning environmentsis essential for learners to thrive academically, emotionally and socially.

A key framework driving this change is UNESCO's Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development. It emphasizes that education systems must actively promote peace and human rights, recognizing that a safe, inclusive school environment is not just a goal but a fundamental part of the learning experience. To make this a reality, education systems must:

• Adopt clear anti-violence policies: Schools need robust policies that address all forms of violence, including bullying, corporal punishment, and online abuse. These policies must be enforced across all schools, with strong accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance and consequences for violations.
• Train educators to prevent and respond to violence: Teachers are on the frontlines of violence prevention. They need ongoing training in positive discipline, gender-responsive teaching, and conflict resolution. Equipping educators with social-emotional learning strategies will help foster a positive school climate where students develop empathy, emotional intelligence, and non-violent communication.
• Empower learners as change-makers: Learners should actively participate in shaping safer schools. Peer-led programmes, student councils and anti-bullying campaigns give learners a voice and allow them to drive positive change. Involving them in decision-making processes makes them co-creators of inclusive learning spaces.
• Partner with communities, governments, and the private sector: Collaboration is key. Governments must align education with broader child protection systems, while tech companies can help make digital spaces safer. Communities, including parents, must be engaged in violence prevention, ensuring that efforts extend beyond the school environment.
• Incorporate social and emotion learning (SEL): Embedding SEL in the curriculum helps learners manage emotions, build positive relationships, and peacefully resolve conflicts. SEL is vital to creating a culture of respect and inclusion, reducing the risk of violence.
• Allocate sufficient resources: Violence prevention requires investment. Governments and education authorities must allocate resources for teacher training, safe infrastructure, mental health services and school-based reporting systems. Long-term funding is crucial to sustain these efforts.
• Monitor, evaluate, and ensure accountability: Schools need strong systems to track the effectiveness of violence prevention programmes. Collecting disaggregated data helps identify gaps and ensures that interventions are responsive to the needs of all students, including those most vulnerable. Regular monitoring ensures continuous improvement and accountability.

What can you do to help end violence in education?

Everyone in the education community and beyond has a role to play in ending violence, and that includes learners, teachers, schools, policymakers, communities, and even the business sector, especially tech companies.

Learners can be powerful advocates for change. They can take an active role in peer-led programmes that promote positive behaviors, bystander intervention, and anti-bullying efforts. Through student councils, advocacy groups, and anti-violence campaigns, learners can push for safer, more inclusive and gender-equitable schools. They can also participate in policymaking processes, sharing their perspectives on how to create environments where everyone feels safe and respected.

Teachers and other educational staff are critical in identifying early signs of violence and taking preventive action. With training in positive discipline and violence prevention, teachers can intervene early to protect students and create supportive learning environments. Beyond prevention, teachers also play a role in promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the classroom, helping to challenge harmful norms that perpetuate violence.

Schools and policymakers need to implement clear anti-violence policies and reporting mechanisms that are accessible and trusted by all learners. Schools should foster a culture where reporting violence is safe and where actions are taken to address it. They must also provide safe spaces for learners to express their concerns and actively participate in shaping decisions that affect them. Policymakers must ensure national laws and policies - such as banning corporal punishment - are in place and consistently enforced, creating a strong foundation for violence-free schools.

Communities, including parents and caregivers, are important partners in reinforcing positive values at home and supporting schools in creating non-violent learning environments. Communities should advocate for effective violence prevention programmes and hold schools accountable for keeping learners safe.

Private sector companies play a significant role in preventing and addressing online violence. With the increasing use of digital platforms for learning, tech companies must take responsibility for creating safer online spaces. This includes developing tools to prevent and respond to cyberbullying, promote digital literacy, and creating platforms where learners learn and interact without fearing harassment or violence. Companies should also collaborate with educators to implement safeguards in digital learning environments, ensuring that learners can engage in safe, supportive, and inclusive online spaces.

By working together - learners, teachers, policymakers, communities, tech companies, and the private sector - everyone can help create schools and digital learning spaces where all feel safe, respected and empowered to learn and thrive.