Many students suffer abuse
Studies conducted by the Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) have revealed that many students are, on a daily basis, being abused and discriminated against in schools nationwide because of their gender.
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The Programmes Manager of the HRAC, Mr Robert Akoto Amoafo, made this known when he met the members of the United Nations Youth Association of Switzerland and their Ghanaian counterparts at a seminar in Accra recently.
The seminar was on the role of non-governmental organisations in reducing the worst forms of human rights abuses in the country.
The studies were inspired by the numerous reports the HRAC had received over the past few years on gender-based violence in schools.
“We have had uncountable reports from students in both junior and senior high schools on this same issue,” he added.
He further disclosed that female students were mostly at the receiving end, especially those in junior high schools.
Mr Amoafo said there had been cases in which some students had to drop out of school, while others resorted to transfers, as a result of victimisation.
“Some students are either bullied or discriminated against because of their gender,” he said, adding the problem had resulted in the low number of girls in school and poor academic performance by victims of such abuses.
Mr Amoafo hinted that the centre would soon introduce cartoons in the newspapers to educate both students and teachers on the causes, outcomes and prevention of gender-based violence in schools.
He advised students not to maltreat their juniors in school and called on teachers to enlighten students on their basic human rights.
By Ralph Dinko / Junior Graphic / Ghana
