Kumasi: Some teachers sexually harass pupils/students, either male or female. This is a growing canker and a disturbing issue for many learners and their parents, schools, and society as a whole. A parent or guardian enrolls his or her female ward in a school, investing the last pesewa in her education, anticipating a successful completion and a bright future for her, only for a teacher who is expected to impart positive knowledge into that child to make her an object of sexual desire.
According to Ghana News Agency, the horrific trend now is that some male teachers even sodomize male students, while some female teachers also harass some female and male students. Some ill-minded teachers with this selfish desire have their way with female students in the Basic and Senior High Schools, while others try but to no avail. Both ways tend to have a lot of repercussions on children, especially emotionally, which affects their ability to concentrate on studies as they swim in a pool of anxiety and distress.
Real instances of such misconduct have been reported. In the case of a 12-year-old girl at a private Basic School in Kumasi, she said her mother arranged a private lesson with her male Science teacher for her while at the Boarding house. The teacher's inappropriate behavior made her uncomfortable, leading her to eventually withdraw from the lessons without providing her mother a reason. Similarly, a 17-year-old girl at a Presbyterian Junior High School in Accra faced threats from a teacher who discovered her past relationship with an older man.
A recent report by the Ghana News Agency in February 2022 highlighted a court case involving a 55-year-old teacher accused of indecent assault. The teacher allegedly attempted to sexually assault a 14-year-old girl in his office. The victim's friends assisted in documenting the incident, leading to legal action against the teacher.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has outlined a Code of Conduct to regulate the behavior of its staff, emphasizing the prohibition of sexual harassment and professional misconduct. However, enforcement of these regulations remains a challenge, with some offenders merely being transferred rather than facing more severe disciplinary actions.
The effects of sexual harassment on survivors are profound, impacting their educational, mental, and physical well-being. Experts like Madam Christiana Azure Ayinzoya and Mrs. Florence Ayisi-Quartey advocate for stronger preventive measures and support systems for victims. UNICEF Ghana also emphasizes zero tolerance for violence in schools, working on programs to prevent such abuses and promote safe learning environments.
