School Bullying: A Billions-of-Dollars Drain on the Philippine Economy
A groundbreaking study from the Philippine Institute for growth Studies (PIDS) has unveiled a shocking truth: school bullying is costing the Philippines billions of pesos annually. The research, led by PIDS Fellow Micheal R.M. Abrigo, estimates that learning losses stemming from bullying could be shaving anywhere from ₱10 billion to ₱20 billion off the nationS GDP each year.
This translates to a notable reduction in economic growth, with the researchers estimating a 0.05 to 0.08 percentage point decrease in GDP growth due to lower school achievement. “When applied to the Philippine GDP of ₱24.3 trillion in 2023, our estimates suggest a foregone ₱10-20 billion in annual GDP due to school bullying,” the researchers stated.
The study, based on data from the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), found a strong correlation between low PISA scores and experiences of bullying, absenteeism, and grade repetition. “School bullying is associated with learning losses in the Philippines,” the researchers emphasized. “This only underscores the importance of addressing school bullying, although this may be easier said than done.”
The researchers’ cautious optimism stems from the Philippines’ alarmingly high rate of school bullying. While only 0.6 percent of Filipino students in the PISA 2022 assessment experienced all nine bullying acts at least once a week for a year, the sheer number of students affected is significant. Extrapolating this data to all 15-year-olds in the 2021-2022 school year suggests at least 11,000 students faced regular, multifaceted bullying.
The study identified nine common bullying behaviors, including exclusion, ridicule, threats, theft or destruction of property, physical assault, spreading rumors, physical fights, absenteeism due to fear, and extortion. “All ‘most bullied’ Filipino students have experienced at least one bullying act in the past 12 months prior to the PISA 2022,compared with 76.6 percent of all Filipino students in the assessment,” the researchers noted. “more than a tenth of the ‘most bullied’ filipino students have experienced all nine bullying acts in the past year prior to the assessment, while this only happened to less than four percent of all Filipino students.”
The PIDS researchers recommend targeted interventions to minimize bullying and provide psychosocial support to victims. Thay also highlight the limited role of principals and guidance counselors in addressing bullying in many schools, contrasting this with established best practices. the study suggests using provincial data on bullying rates to prioritize areas needing immediate attention.
The findings underscore the urgent need for extensive anti-bullying programs in the Philippines, not only for the well-being of students but also for the long-term economic health of the nation. The significant financial impact of bullying highlights the need for increased investment in preventative measures and support services.
