Safety in learning institutions is a concern of all stakeholders in education.
Parents, educators, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations, policy makers and governments all work to ensure that teachers, students and other members of the school community are safe from any imminent danger that could otherwise compromise the realisation of schools’ objectives.
One form of violence that threatens to tear apart the educational fabric in Kenya is sexual violence and harassment in learning institutions in general, and in secondary schools, in particular.
In Kenya, sexual harassment is one of the gender-based abuses that has been receiving little social acknowledgement and minimal legislative focus.
Unlike sexual abuse that is easily detectable and punishable by law, sexual harassment is a complex, fluid phenomenon, which does not lend itself to precise legal definition.
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Both formal and informal evidence has shown the presence of sexual harassment in our learning institutions.
Incidents of head teachers and other educational officers extending sexual demands with promises of promotions or transfers to preferred specific schools or districts have been reported by teachers.
Failure by the teachers to comply has led to dire consequences, including disciplinary proceedings, or being transferred to schools in remote areas. This may in many ways affect their performance.
In light of the foregoing, Kenya Women Teachers Association (Kewota) makes a number of recommendations.
First is the need for a clear policy framework on sexual harassment that defines, prohibits and carries penalties for acts committed by anyone.
If this is not done, then all other efforts will pale into insignificance and fighting this problem will prove more challenging and fruits will take long to be realised.
Unlike in developed countries, sexual harassment guidelines either do not exist or are not reinforced, as they should in school settings and work places in Kenya.
Though the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have code of ethics, they have not been effective in teacher protection. There remains a policy vacuum.
Secondly, Kewota makes a call to action through speaking out against sexual harassment and advocacy. As an association, Kewota calls on female teachers to speak out in case of incidences where they are being sexually harassed. Several cases of sexual violence and harassment have gone unreported, which makes it more difficult to firmly deal with the problem in schools.
Third, we call on an appropriate curriculum to equip teachers.
Kenyan teachers are not equipped with sexual safety skills during training and are unable to handle sexual safety issues. Sexual safety curriculum, therefore, needs to be developed in all teacher training institutions, diploma colleges and universities.
Kewota has embarked on a countrywide sensitisation programme on the matter starting today, where the leaders will be spreading the message to female teachers in Kirinyaga County with the KCB Bank Kirinyaga branch.
On November 15, the team heads to Baringo County.
The time for action is now since this phenomenon may have a negative impact on the teachers’ performance in schools.
- The writer is the CEO, Kenya Women Teachers Association.
