One Fourth of Bulgarian Students Bullied at School - Study

Bulgarian schools now have students in the same building with ages ranging from 4-5 in preschool to 19 for high school seniors and the aggressive behavior naturally transfers from one age level to the other. File photo

Anywhere between 25% and 27% of Bulgarian children are direct or indirect victims of abuse in the form of bullying, according to a recent study of psychology experts.

Psychologist, Ivan Gigov, says these percentages are very high for Europe, since comparative measurement methods have been used, adding the staggering numbers for school bullying have always been such, but society failed to notice them.

Gigov explains aggression and anger in children (as in adults) with the state of frustration, when someone wants to achieve something but is obstructed by circumstances or other individuals.

The expert points out that in Bulgarian schools, particularly those in urban environment, the situation is dramatic. In the last 30 years, he says, only two new schools have been built in the country, while the existing ones were planned for 300 to 500 kids. Currently, the same buildings house about 1 500 – 2 000 students and the separation of elementary, middle and high schools no longer exists.

Bulgarian schools now have students in the same building with ages ranging from 4-5 in preschool to 19 for high school seniors and the aggressive behavior naturally transfers from one age level to the other, according to Gigov.

Anonymity, both in large cities and large schools is another factor since children often fail to recognize and identify the perpetrator of violence.

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