Globally, 115 million children are affected by school-related violence, from corporal punishment and bullying to sexual violence. Yet this issue has long been underfunded and underreported. Research shows that violence impedes children's learning, mental health, and long-term life outcomes. So how do we prevent it?
In this discussion I'm joined by Dipak Naker, the co-founder and executive director of the Coalition for Good Schools, and Gabriela Smarreli, a research fellow here at CGD. We recorded our conversation just after the 2026 Education World Forum in London, where a Ministerial Taskforce co-chaired by the UK and Sierra Leone (and supported by CGD, the FCDO, GPE, and Safe to Learn) renewed commitments from education ministers across nine countries to end violence in and around schools.
On this episode, we look at what the data shows about school violence (and what data is missing), how to conduct such research accurately and safely, and effective strategies for changing attitudes and practices around the world.
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