Behavioural and Academic Problems in the School Setting among Secondary School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to identify behavioural and academic problems in the school environment among secondary school students by examining manifestations of school violence, bullying and academic underachievement. To achieve the study’s objectives, a descriptive approach was adopted. A questionnaire consisting of 33 items distributed across three dimensions was administered to a purposive sample of 68 male and female students in the second year of secondary school (Arts and Philosophy track) at Mohamed Bouni Secondary School in the wilaya of Annaba during the 2024/25 academic year. The data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation. 

The results showed that manifestations of school violence occurred to a moderate degree, with an arithmetic mean of 1.72 and a standard deviation of 0.9188. The findings also revealed certain manifestations of school bullying, such as mocking/sarcasm, social exclusion, and hurtful/insulting words. Additionally, the results indicated some manifestations of academic delay, such as difficulty understanding new concepts, poor concentration, forgetting what was learnt and needing more time to grasp lessons. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the behavioural and academic issues that secondary school students may encounter in the school environment.