MANAGING SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS BY TEACHERS. A CASE STUDY OF MASVINGO DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZIMBABWE (Published)
Child sexual abuse is becoming devastatingly prominent in most schools, it is wide spread but largely unrecognized problem in many countries. Schools should be a safe haven for students. Under the hand of a respected teacher students are damaged leading to immense suffering of victims and creation of a bad reputation for the teaching profession. It hinders the development of abused individuals. This paper explores sexual abuse of students by teachers in schools. The study adopted a case study design using questionnaires and semi structured interview schedule to collect data. Generally the teachers and school heads were of the opinion that teachers sexually abuse students in the school contexts. Various reasons were given why teachers commit such a criminal offence. Some of the reasons were said to be reflected in the community and wider society such as unequal power relations, and beliefs in myths such as having sex with a virgin cures HIV and AIDS. The study also found a host of negative repercussions on the victims. The participants established that sexual abuse was detrimental to the physical, social and cognitive development of the child and they suggested ways schools can implement to prevent sexual abuse of students by teachers.
Keywords: Abuse, Abuser, Child, Child Sexual Abuse, Teacher, Victim
MANAGING SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS BY TEACHERS. A CASE STUDY OF MASVINGO DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZIMBABWE (Review Completed - Accepted)
Child sexual abuse is becoming devastatingly prominent in most schools, it is wide spread but largely unrecognized problem in many countries. Schools should be a safe haven for students. Under the hand of a respected teacher students are damaged leading to immense suffering of victims and creation of a bad reputation for the teaching profession. It hinders the development of abused individuals. This paper explores sexual abuse of students by teachers in schools. The study adopted a case study design using questionnaires and semi structured interview schedule to collect data. Generally the teachers and school heads were of the opinion that teachers sexually abuse students in the school contexts. Various reasons were given why teachers commit such a criminal offence. Some of the reasons were said to be reflected in the community and wider society such as unequal power relations, and beliefs in myths such as having sex with a virgin cures HIV and AIDS. The study also found a host of negative repercussions on the victims. The participants established that sexual abuse was detrimental to the physical, social and cognitive development of the child and they suggested ways schools can implement to prevent sexual abuse of students by teachers
Keywords: Abuse, Abuser, Child, Child Sexual Abuse, Teacher, Victim