Gambia Teachers Union (GTU), last Thursday held a stakeholder consultative meeting on school-related Gender-Based Violence, targeted to develop strong recommendations to address the menace in the society.
Held at Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi, the meeting was funded by Solidarity Center and brought together civil society organisations, school managers and teachers, religious leaders and ward councilors.
Marie Antoinette Corr-Jack, GTU General Secretary explained that they recently organised a ‘Bantabas’ that unfolded horrifying stories, which prompted them to organise the meeting.
She highlighted that by coming together with partners, they will be able to address GBV issues happening in homes, schools and within the society.
Madam Corr-Jack said they hope that when ward councilors return to their various constituencies they will talk to their people to help put an end to GBV, adding that she also hoped that religious leaders will preach the negative consequences of the menace in their sermons.
Fallou Sowe, national coordinator of the Network against Gender Base Violence (NGBV) said the menace can have serious consequences on students, especially girls, in relation to their performance, behaviour and retention in school.
Mr. Sowe said if a girl child is sexually harassed or abused in school, it can undermine her self-esteem and drastically reduce her performance and possibly lead to her drop out of school.
He also pointed out that child marriage demoralize students and has physiological effects which can lead to immoral behaviours. “This can also affect them physically through infection of diseases such as HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.”
Mr. Sowe noted that attacks on school girls on their way to and from school, particularly in provincial Gambia can result to their drop out.
He said there have been instances where measures are taken by authorities when cases on GBV are reported but in other instances, nothing is done. He called on people to work together to combat the issue, saying human resource is the most valuable resource of the country and as such, Gambia cannot afford to let half of that human resource perish.
Essa Sowe, GTU deputy secretary general said when teachers are found wanting of GBV, it kills them literally, saying as teachers, they are govern by a code of conduct and should abide by it.
Mariama Johm, campaign and advocacy officer of the Network said it is in the classroom where students are either made or broken, saying people should make society safe for all.
