Sur school’s theatre performance creates awareness on negative impact of bullying

Muscat: Children, parents and educators were provided insights into the negative impact bullying can have on students, in the form of a play organised in Sur on Wednesday.

The play, which was held at the Library of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Wilayat Sur, is part of an awareness event called “The Treatment of Apparent Bullying”.

The theatrical performance was part of the event, which dealt with the phenomenon of bullying while at school. Explaining that bullying is a dangerous phenomenon that threatens the safety and students and disrupts the teaching process, the play also conveyed that bullying affects a student’s psyche and hinders the achievement of academic excellence.

Conversely, what is important at school is the establishment of close and solid friendships among students, a concept with which teachers in Oman agree.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s youth, which makes their development very important,” said Naif Al Sinani, a teacher in North Al Batinah. “They are our natural resources in which we must invest. To invest in human resources is never a sign of weakness. Rather, it is the lack of development in them which makes all of us weak.”

“Children today live in a world of technological innovation and ready access to the internet, which is a double-edged sword,” added another teacher. “If these facilities are used incorrectly, then children could develop bad habits such as bullying, the use of foul language, and arrogance. They might also take their intimidation online and extort and harass people.

“The victims of such actions may be so badly affected by them that they might try to harm themselves or commit suicide,” he added. “There must be proper supervision from family members over what their children do, with support from schools and communities.”