The figures come from the Overview of cases handled by confidential inspectors in education in 2023-2024. In the 2023-2024 school year, the Inspectorate registered a total of 2,317 new cases of psychological, physical or sexual violence. This is an increase of 165 compared with the previous year and 574 more than in the 2021-2022 school year. The Inspectorate looks at primary education, secondary education, special education, secondary vocational education, higher education and other sectors.

The increase of 165 cases is particularly visible in primary and secondary education. In primary education, the number rose from 880 in 2021-2022, via 1,005 in 2022-2023, to 1,270 cases in 2023-2024. In secondary education, it rose over those three years from 657 via 772 to 801.

More unique reports every year

The number of unique reports rose again in 2023-2024 to 3,657, an increase of 532 compared with the 3,125 reports in 2022-2023. June stood out, with 529 new reports. Never before in the history of the reporting centre had more than 500 reports been processed in a single month.

Psychological violence in primary and secondary education: reports increasing in number and severity

The number of cases involving psychological violence has been rising for years. Increasingly, these cases involve serious and prolonged bullying. This school year, 1,187 cases with this characteristic were registered, a number that increases every year: there were 752 cases in 2021-2022 and 992 in 2022-2023. What notable developments can be observed in the sectors?

Primary education: 708 of the 1,187 cases

Psychological violence is a growing problem in primary education. Both the severity and duration of this violence are increasing. More than half of the cases involving psychological violence concern prolonged and serious bullying.

Secondary education: 375 of the 801 cases

For some time, the confidential inspectorate has been seeing an increase in cases involving psychological violence in secondary education. This school year, 375 cases were registered, an increase compared with previous years. Of these, 202 cases involved (serious) bullying, more than half.

Inspectorate raises concerns about psychological violence

  • Schools where psychological violence, such as bullying, occurs are not sufficiently successful in stopping the disrupted group dynamics caused by this psychological violence. The confidential inspectors consider this concerning because of the significant consequences of bullying behaviour.
  • In both primary and secondary education, the confidential inspectorate is observing an increase in the severity of psychological violence. This is increasingly shifting towards threatening expressions, including threats of physical violence and/or weapons.

Increase in physical violence too, sometimes resulting in permanent injuries

The number of cases involving physical violence has also been increasing for years. There were 478 in 2021-2022, 560 in 2022-2023 and 623 in 2023-2024. In a large proportion of these cases—347 of the 623 cases—this school year once again concerned physical violence between pupils under the age of 13. The confidential inspectorate has observed this for the fifth consecutive year. Most cases in this category involve (serious) assault, threats (of physical violence or with a weapon) and unwanted, disruptive physical contact, such as pulling and pushing.

The Inspectorate is observing increasingly serious forms of physical violence in primary and secondary education. Of the 623 cases, 185 involved (serious) assault, sometimes resulting in permanent injuries.

Cause for concern

  • The confidential inspectorate sees a worrying connection: failing to recognise, acknowledge and address bullying in time can lead to escalations, such as fights and, in some cases, even assault.

Source: Inspectorate of Education.