A Comparative Study of School Based Violence and Strategies for Control in Public and Private Secondary Schools in Osun State

Background: Violence is universal; it occurs in schools (both public and private). The study aim was to assess the rates of violence as well as existing violence prevention strategies in public and private schools in Osun state. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 800 secondary school students (599 in public and 201 in private schools) selected by multi­stage sampling technique using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Results: The mean age for all the respondents was 14.26 years ±2.00. Males make up about 51% of the respondents in both public and private schools. Respondents from public schools assaulted other students and staff with a weapon more than their colleagues in private schools (24.7% and 9.7% against 12.9% and 6.5% respectively). The commonest violence 'prevention' strategy in both schools was punishment for violent acts (>90%). Conclusion: Respondents in public schools perpetrated and experienced virtually all forms of school-related violence more than those in private schools. There were mild differences in existing violence prevention strategies in both schools. School connectedness seems to be a major factor in the differential rates of violence between both groups of schools. Keywords: School, violence, public, private, preventio