Exploring child-based strategies in addressing child-to-child violence in selected primary schools in Kitgum District in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Child-to-child violence in schools is a vice in society. Appreciating the views of children in addressing this vice is critical because it helps in valuing the contribution of children in solving problems among themselves. This study explored the child-based strategies used to address child-to-child violence in primary schools in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. The study adopted a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological design involving conversational focus group discussion and children’s drawings. In- depth interviews were also conducted to collect data from selected teachers. Results showed that children commonly use: individual child based; informal peer group-based and formal peer group based-strategies; and they involve their teachers/counsellors in overcoming child-to-child violence. Conclusively, child-to-child violence cannot be overcome by adults only, but it requires also the involvement of children because children have the resilience, commitment, love and other child-based abilities to overcome child-to-child violence.