37.3% of girls who were abused at school were the only ones to report it

This study shows that eliminating gender-based violence against students in schools requires the participation of every Rwandan.

The school’s management said the information was provided to students who were on leave and that the teacher had not returned to work, but GS Nyabagendwa headmaster Jean Paul Furayide said he did not believe the teacher would be drawn to the claims that he was pregnant.

He said: “The teacher went to study at the university last December and he did not return when we first came. We will listen to the information that he is being followed by the police bureau (RIB). The parents never told us at the school that their children were abused by the teacher. Therefore, we as an institution cannot confirm that the teacher is the one who abused the children. We can only prove that he lost his job”.

The school’s principal added that they spoke to the child who was allegedly abused by the teacher, but they avoided getting involved in the matter because the matter had already been reported to the authorities and the alleged abuser was not present.

Although the director said this, some teachers working at the school said that the teacher escaped legal sanctions and is now being tracked down.

There are still few whistleblowers

While this child continues to study, even the school leaders said that they will end the year 2023-2024 without any children.

Gender-based violence against students in schools is one of the concerns of different agencies, who say it is inappropriate that students, especially girls, should not face lessons in addition to facing violence.

The Rwanda Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in partnership with Never Again Rwanda conducted a study on children who were victims of this violence in high schools in Kicukiro and Bugesera districts and two high schools in Kigali city.

A study showed that about 93% of high school students were aware of policies against gender-based violence in schools.

37.3% of girls who were abused in school were the only ones reporting it

Students interviewed said the most common forms of violence included forced sexual intercourse, non-consensual touching (especially of private parts) and forced kissing.

Some of the perpetrators identified in this study include classmates, teachers, and other people around them.

59% of students surveyed said they knew how to report violence they experienced, but the study showed that only 37.3% of students dared to report it.

YWCA Director General Uzamukunda Pudentienne noted that this is an issue that should be addressed by all agencies that look after the Nyarwanda community.

Deogratias Tusingiz says cooperation is needed to end violence

He said: “It is necessary to increase awareness and ensure that all children, boys and girls, receive education and ban the culture of violence in our schools. Whoever does this knows that there are planned punishments so that people stop watching violence and start talking about it.

One solution is to teach parents to talk to their children about what they are experiencing at school so that when they hear about abuse, they will rush to report it to the authorities.

Some school administrators also said that the solution to this problem should not be found only in schools but should look at all institutions that make up the Nyawanda community.

“We are searching and finding out that in order to end gender-based violence, all Rwandans should take the time to protest and take steps to stop this from continuing because it endangers children,” said Deogratias Tuyisingize, president of the Nkanga Education Association in Rweru district in Bugesera region.