Safe haven for girls: can teachers challenge gender violence?

Rape, sexual harassment, abuse, assault, homophobia – the list is endless. In South Africa, girls in particular are the victims of school-based violence. How can schools and their staff – part of the problem – become part of the solution?

'Opening our eyes: addressing gender-based violence in South African schools – a module for educators' has been developed as part of a 5 year partnership between the South African National Department of Education, McGill University in the USA and CIDA. The training manual is a response to the growing number of reports on the extent of gender-based violence in South African schools.

Designed to be used at the school or district level with teachers, school management and governing bodies, the module draws on research supporting the belief that teachers must first possess the knowledge themselves in order to implement a curriculum of change. The 8 interactive workshops are intended to show school staff what is happening in their schools and how they can respond to gender violence. Specifically the workshops aim to:

• heighten awareness of what gender-based violence and sexual harassment are and why they happen
• provide tools and strategies for addressing gender-based violence
• increase awareness of the links between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS
• contribute to ‘whole school’ strategies for enhancing the culture of learning and teaching within a safe environment

Piloted in schools in Gauteng Province, the Free State and Mpumalanga, the module is now being rolled out nation-wide. Successful implementation, however, rests on the commitment of national and provincial governments to take seriously the magnitude of the problem. Further challenges are:

• Local education authorities need to ensure that the workshops take place in every school in South Africa’s nine provinces. This may be problematic because as gender officers often have other responsibilities besides gender or are only in an ‘acting’ capacity.
• The module is a professional development tool and not part of the national curriculum. There is a danger that it will get lost by the wayside.
• Teacher training establishments should also have access to the module for use with trainee teachers.
• Central to successful implementation is acknowledgment of the links between the module and HIV prevention.
• Strong leadership with a clear vision, targets for implementation, financial support and cross-country ‘buy-in’ are all prerequisites for successful nationwide training.

Source(s):
'Opening our eyes: addressing gender-based violence in South African schools, a module for educators', Gender Directorate, Pretoria: National Department of Education (2001)
Insights special isssue - Conspiracy of silence? Stamping out abuse in African schools Full document.

id21 Research Highlight: 16 July 2001

Further Information:
Claudia Mitchell
McGill University
3724 McTavish Street
Montreal
Quebec H3A 1Y2
Canada

Tel: +1 514 398 1318
Fax: +1 514 398 8260
Contact the contributor: cycm@musica.mcgill.ca

McGill University, U.S.A.

Other related links:
CSAEMP aims to improve learning in South Africa schools

FAWE aims to ensure that girls have access to school, complete school and perform better

'Educating Girls - transforming the future' from UNICEF

'Premarital Sex and school dropout in Kenya: can schools make a difference?'

Wellesley Centres for Women focuses on sexual violence harassment