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Experiencing or witnessing violence in and around schools can have serious, long-lasting impacts on children’s learning, health and well-being.  that learners who are frequently bullied are nearly twice as likely to skip school as compared to their peers, with violence often leading to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. 

Sexual violence may lead to early and unwanted pregnancies, which often affects girls’ ability to stay in school. For example, in , a quarter of pregnant adolescents do not return to school after their pregnancy. Beyond affecting learners, school violence hinders development progress, with USD11 trillion lost in lifetime earnings according to the World Bank.

Education’s contribution to ending violence against children and adolescents in and around schools as well as beyond, within relationships, homes and communities, has been : 

• Context-appropriate curricula equip learners with the knowledge, competencies and values they need to prevent violence, stay safe, and nurture healthy relationships. 
• Teachers play a key role in fostering positive classrooms environments and modeling respectful behaviours. 
• Schools enable children to access services – including mental health and psychosocial wellbeing services – on site, or refer them to services in communities.

However, more must be done to ensure every child is safe to learn and thrive. 

Countries have recently made bold public commitments to foster safe learning environments: 

• 26 countries pledged to develop or improve curricula to prevent violence and promote healthy relationships. Training teachers on content (such as mental health, bullying, digital safety, safeguarding, socio-emotional skills) and pedagogy was also a priority. 
• 11 countries pledged to set up or strengthen school-based or school-linked services, through direct service provision or improved referrals to services in communities. 
• 13 countries also focused on safer learning environments through stronger school governance, policies and mechanisms – including codes of conduct, school standards and guidelines, and school-based reporting mechanisms.

Ending corporal punishment has also been identified as a key priority, with countries pledging to promote positive discipline in schools or adopt legal provisions to ban corporal punishment. Online violence is another priority, with countries committing to training teacher and integrating content on online violence in school curricula

These pledges spotlight the many types of violence that children experience in and around schools. Many countries also recognize that ending violence against children requires a shift in unequal gender and social norms that lie at the root of much of it. 

Pledges provide a strong platform to guide future investments and technical support, and advance national, regional and global advocacy as countries prepare to deliver on their commitments. The time to turn the tide on violence in and around schools is now.