Successful anti-bullying programme affects the whole school
The KiVa programme, developed at the University of Turku, has reportedly reduced bullying by one-half in Finnish primary schools. The programme has also been found to be very efficient in international comparisons.
The excellent outcomes of the programme have been noticed in Finland as well as abroad, and interest towards the programme has been expressed in many countries. Christina Salmivalli, Professor of psychology and leader of the KiVa programme, states that the programme is easily applicable.
- The mechanisms of bullying are similar all over the world. Anti-bullying tools are needed in every country, Salmivalli points out.
In the long run, the programme may help prevent harmful consequences of bullying such as depression, mental health problems, crime and antisocial behaviour, and even school shootings – after all, most school shooters have been victims of bullying.
Anti-bullying work requires persistence
The goal of the programme is to help schools prevent bullying and to provide school staff with efficient strategies to address bullying.
The KiVa programme works at many different levels: it includes, for example, a teacher’s guide with diverse lesson frameworks, an anti-bullying computer game, posters, attention vests for recess supervisors, and a parents’ guide. The programme features public actions aimed at the entire student body, as well as more precisely targeted measures to be implemented when necessary.
- This is not a one-off programme; we want it to become a permanent instrument deployed as part of the schools’ anti-bullying work, Salmivalli notes.
High impact thanks to comprehensiveness
An impact study covering more than 30,000 Finnish students from more than 200 Finnish schools was conducted during the programme’s pilot phase in 2007-2008. The study results indicated that the risk of becoming bullied at schools that deployed the KiVa programme was reduced by as much as one-half in comparison with the reference schools.
- It was also noted that the programme had a positive impact on the attitudes and behaviour of onlookers – students who just stand by and watch the bullying – and it was also stated to enhance the general well-being at school, Salmivalli tells us.
According to Salmivalli, the exceptionally high impact rate of the programme can be attributed to its comprehensive nature: it involves intensive lessons, exercises and concrete materials.
- Usually, anti-bullying programmes only feature instructions for teachers. The KiVa programme involves the entire school, appeals to the common sense of responsibility and aims at encouraging students to openly express that they do not accept bullying.
The programme is deployed in most Finnish schools already
In autumn 2009, the programme was introduced in most Finnish primary schools, and it now covers approximately 300,000 students. More schools will start utilising the programme in autumn 2010.
- The programme is based on voluntary participation; it will not be forced on schools. Nevertheless, most Finnish schools have chosen to introduce the programme as soon as possible, Salmivalli says with joy.
The programme also bears great research significance. The extensive material gathered in the programme development phase can now be utilised by postgraduate psychology students at the University of Turku, as well as a group of international researchers.
- The research is still ongoing. The next step will be to follow one age group through secondary school, which will give us more information on the long-term impacts of the programme, among other things, Salmivalli tells us.
The KiVa programme is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and developed by the University of Turku, in collaboration between the Department of Psychology and the Centre for Learning Research. The project is co-led by Christina Salmivalli and Elisa Poskiparta, Director of the Centre for Learning Research.
Text: Johanna Tilkanen Photo: Vesa-Matti Väärä