EXAMINATION OF THE INCIDENCE OF SEX AND AGE ON BULLYING BEHAVIOUR AMONG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN PUBLIC SPECIAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DELTA STATE: IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

The study investigated the incidence of sex and age on bullying behaviour among children with disabilities in public special secondary schools in Delta State. The study employed survey research design. Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population for this study consisted of all the three hundred and fourty-eight (348) pupils in the public special secondary schools in Delta State. The sample of this study comprised of two hundred and ninety-two (292) students with disabilities in all the public special primary schools in Delta State and they were selected using purposive random sampling because of their peculiarities. The instrument used for data collection was a self-developed scale titled; Bullying Behaviour among Special Students Questionnaire (BSSQ). The instrument was validated by three experts. Inferential statistics of independent sample t-test was used to analyze the data gathered for the study at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The results showed that there is no significant difference between age, sex and bullying behaviour among children with disabilities in public special secondary school in Delta State. Consequent upon the result, it was suggested among others that, enlightenment programmes for the students, their instructors and parents in the form of seminars, conferences, short stories and pamphlets explaining the details of bullying and its consequences should be organized by the school counsellors from time to time.