STRENGTHENING CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES IN SCHOOLS: A PRISMABASED SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MEASURES ADDRESSING BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION, AND ABUSE AMONG LEARNERS

This study presents a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review examining the implementation and effectiveness
of Child Protection Policies (CPPs) in addressing bullying, discrimination, and abuse among learners in school
settings. A comprehensive search across major academic databases identified 489 published records, including
21 studies, for synthesis from 1995 onwards. Following rigorous screening and eligibility assessment, 15 studies
were included in the final synthesis, comprising seven systematic reviews, four empirical and contextual Child
Protection Policy studies, and four supplementary contextual sources. The findings reveal persistent gaps
between policy awareness and implementation, mainly due to insufficient teacher training, limited resources,
weak reporting mechanisms, and varying levels of community engagement. Evidence further highlights the
effectiveness of whole-school approaches, restorative practices, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in
improving learner safety and school climate. The review underscores the need for strengthened implementation
strategies, sustained professional development for educators, clearer reporting systems, and enhanced
community involvement to ensure that Child Protection Policies achieve their intended outcomes. These
findings contribute to public administration and educational policy discourse by offering evidence-based
insights to inform policy refinement and implementation at the school level.