Safe Schools Project to reduce gender based violence in schools

Violence is often referred to as the use of unlawful force against someone. It is criminal and violates certain fundamental human rights of victims.

Female and children are said to be most vulnerable to violence with most perpetrators being males.Gender Based Violence, (GBV) is perceived to be violence against women or girls usually perpetrated by men or boys.

The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against women defines it as “Any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women…., including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

Violence could occur anywhere including schools where traditional gender roles often have a negative effect on learning, participation and mobility.

To ensure that boys and girls have equal opportunity to learn, gain skills through classroom and extracurricular activities and be safe from threats, a Safe School Programme, (SSP) is being carried out in forty schools and communities in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Assin North and South and Mfanteman districts.

The purpose is to create gender safe environments and reduce school-related-gender-based violence, (SRGBV), to result in improved educational outcomes.

A baseline survey conducted showed that lately gender based violence, (GBV) is on the increase. Studies found that some institutional practices and traditions perpetuate a highly gendered environment which could have serious psychological effect on victims as well as their academic performance.

It was found that GBV in the form of bullying, fighting and sexual harassment of both girls and boys was evident in various degrees in the schools.

A sizeable number of schools did not promote gender-sensitive environments, particularly relating to the provision of separate utilities. Majority of teachers were also found to be in support of the withdrawal of girls who became pregnant from school.

This is against the Ghana Education Service’s, (GES) policy that such girls should be allowed to remain in school as long as they want / can and after delivery go back to school or change school if they so wish.

Dr. Ruby Avotri of the Curriculum, Research and Development department of the GES presented the survey report at an in-depth briefing workshop in Accra on SSP activities by its advocacy task force. She said a high proportion of pupil (non-professional) teachers were found with their teaching likely to be less effective than professional teachers.

“Quite a number of them would prefer to leave the teaching profession for better jobs.”
They are discontent with the poor conditions of service and frustration with educational practice due to inadequate educational materials and facilities, lack of motivation and parental assault on teachers.”

On human rights, she revealed that both teachers and pupils had limited knowledge of their basic human rights.

Dr. Avotri said even though there was a relatively high awareness level of both pupils and teachers in sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDs knowledge, awareness was not translated into the appropriate behaviour expected of them.

“Respondent still had misconceptions about HIV prevention and protection such as one could be cursed or bewitched with HIV.”
Alcohol, drugs and peers, she stated played prominent role in influencing the sexual behaviour of some pupils. T

he survey recommended that violence should be completely wiped out in the schools as its repercussions are more damaging to pupils and teachers than one can imagine.
“Gender-based issues must be integrated in the curriculum of teacher-trainees to promote awareness of destructive effects of stereotypes and the need to eradicate them in schools.”

She added that teachers’ grievances must be addressed and they must be adequately motivated to reduce the attrition rate of teachers to the barest minimum especially in the rural communities.

The Safe Schools Project is a five-year programme funded by the Women in Development office of the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID). Pilot activities are being carried out in Ethiopia and Malawi.

The Country Coordinator, Prof. Beatrice Okyere explained the objectives are to develop and have in place prevention, reporting and response systems in relation to SRGBV and reduce it at intervention schools.

She said the SSP uses a social mobilization approach which includes involving all relevant segments of society to create an enabling environment and effect positive behaviour and social change.

“SSP works in partnership utilizing participatory methods at the national level with a network to advocate for improved policies and legislation. At the institutional level it works with Ministry of Education and schools to build capacity, community level with parents, PTAs and community leaders to carry out action plans and at the individual level with boys and girls to equip them with life skills needed to develop healthy and gender equitable relationships.”

The SSP design has two components. The first, research, involves sampling of selected schools and districts, as well as baseline data collection.

The intervention component entails three main interventions put in place, namely student, teacher and student-teacher interventions. Student interventions centre on teaching of life skills, setting up of gender clubs and counseling teams in schools.

Teacher interventions focus on preparing teachers to create safe school environment, inculcate in them gender-sensitive teaching practices and encourage professional code of conduct. Family Health Foundation, (FHF) is one of the three local non-governmental organizations, (NGO’s) SSP is collaborating with to implement four of the interventional programmes.

FHF is involved in life skills. Christopher Acquah of FHF said the project has taught teachers more effective methods of teaching and a reduction of canning in schools has improved the student-teacher relationship in intervention schools.

“Teenage pregnancy has reduced considerably in some intervention schools. Parents and community members now see the need to collaborate and provide for the needs of their children.”

The two NGOs include Gender Centre which is focusing on counseling and Centre for Educational Development, Evaluation and Management, (CEDEM) concentrating on teacher training in SRGBV prevention and code of conduct.