The Economic Impact of School Violence: A Report for Plan International

The research, carried out by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), reveals the enormous economic and social cost of violence in schools across the world. Focused on three types of violence in schools – corporal punishment, bullying and sexual violence – it found the total cost of school violence in terms of social benefits lost in just 13 countries for which information is available ran to almost $60 billion. The research found that children who experience violence at school are likely to earn less, be in greater need of healthcare and other services, and long-term, contribute less to their countries’ economies. It says that the problem is a significant barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals – as it leads to truancy, under-performance and high drop-out rates.No country is immune from the blight of school violence and eradicating it takes commitment and resources. But failing to invest in it costs considerably more. Full report