Gov’t urged to monitor social activities of students
Mr Ernest Otoo, Research Consultant and Educationist, has urged government agencies to ensure strict monitoring of social activities among students and the relationship between school authorities and students to prevent gender based violence (GBV).
Mr Otoo called for effective educational forum for educators and students to learn about the concept of GBV and the misconceptions of gender roles as well as the perception of vulnerability to violence in schools.
He made the call on Wednesday when he presented a research report on GBV in schools at a validation forum organised by Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) and funded by STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled organisation in Accra.
The forum would illicit suggestions and comments on the report from stakeholders to be used as a working document.
The research report was conducted through one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with 215 students and 91 teachers in nine schools located in Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
Mr Otoo said findings of the research indicated that there are significant deficits in student’s awareness and knowledge of GBV while most of the teachers are unaware of the categories of actions that constitute GBV.
He said the findings revealed that 19 per cent of students indicated that rape and defilement occurred in schools.
Sixty seven per cent of students said sexual comments are common within schools while 49 per cent reported sexual touching.
Mr Otoo said the findings showed that GBV hinders students’ ability to concentrate and learn in the classroom which could result in dropouts or reduction of school attendance.
Mr Robert Akoto Amoafo, Acting Executive Director of HRAC in his presentation on Protocol for Preventing, Monitoring and Reporting incidents of GBV in schools, said it aims at providing instructions for responding to GBV in schools.
He said the protocol would set out policies, procedures and agreements to be followed and actions to be taken to prevent GBV in schools.
Ms Jemilla Ariori, Senior Project Manager of HRAC said GBV are violence that inflicted upon someone because of their gender or when violence is experienced differently between males and females.
She said the aim of the research is to determine the prevalence of GBV in schools and record the methods and mechanisms used to report and respond to such incidence.
Source: GNA