In-Service Teacher Training Program Development Study to Prevent Peer Bullying

Peer bullying is a problem that is difficult to notice and is increasingly affecting the health of society. Responding to peer bullying requires the determination and intense effort of school administrators, teachers, parents, and other school staff. Teachers who feel more competent about bullying are more likely to intervene in situations of bullying and victimization situations. However, many teachers have difficulty diagnosing bullying, do not know how to cope with bullying, or have trouble applying coping methods. This study aims to introduce the in-service teacher training program to prevent peer bullying. This program was developed using a problem-centered education program design. The content was determined with a thematic approach. The values emphasized by this program, the tools and methods it proposes, and the outcomes of the program reflect the progressive and existentialist perspectives. As a result of the evaluation of the program, it was seen that the in-service training program effectively improved teachers' competencies by increasing their awareness of peer bullying and combating bullying. It is recommended that future studies should be conducted in broad scope, including developing the competencies of teachers in dealing with cyberbullying that increased during online education.