Secondary school students join fight against women violence

A round table on the fight against violence against girls and women in schools was organised in Yaounde on December 4, 2014.

Monguem Nadine, a student in Yaounde, was a victim of sexual harassment and threats by her teacher when she was in Form II. She suffered repeated threats from the teacher and had to change her school the following year.

This and other testimonies were given during a round-table organised by the Ministry of Secondary Education on Wednesday December 3, 2014 in Yaounde. The round table was in line with the eighth edition of the campaign “16 days of activism against gender based violence”.

Speaking at the opening, the Inspector General in the Ministry of Secondary Education, Evelyne Mpoudi Ngole called on girls to say no and denounce acts of violence against them. She called on the girls to report to the school authorities who are them to protect them. The different speakers at the conference talked on topics such as identifying the different forms of violence, causes use of violence, manifestations of violence and impact of violence.

Violence against girls and women in schools takes many forms. These include rape, sexual harassment insults, corporal punishment, bullying, intimidation, teasing and threats, among others. Violence or the fear of violence is one of the major reasons for girls not attending school.

Also much of the violence against girls goes unreported and the girls leave with it all their lives. The conference therefore was an opportunity for education officials and students to seek for the conference was to contribute in eradicating violence against women and girls in the school milieu.