Accra:  Governments, civil society organizations and other stakeholders must be commended for their efforts in ensuring that the enrolment of girls in schools nationwide is almost the same as boys. However, their efforts might be in vain if girls feel insecure in school. If the safety of girls is not equitable to that of males, then academic learning is compromised and the psychological empowerment that education can confer is greatly reduced.

It is then imperative that girls stay in schools and remain safe to complete their education. The school must be a place of learning and should entertain the problem of school-related violence against girls.

School-related gender-based violence against girls can be broadly clustered into two overlapping categories: explicit gender (sexual) violence, which includes sexual harassment, intimidation, abuse, assault and rape, and implicit gender violence, which includes corporal punishment, bullying, verbal and psychological abuse, teacher?s unofficial use of girls for free labor such as babysitting, cooking and washing during class hours and other forms of aggressive or unauthorized behavior that is violent (Akiba 2002).

The inability of most girls to report cases of violence against them make most perpetrators go unpunished. Instances where they are reported to the Police, there is a high tendency that such cases will be settled out of court. This occurs when perpetrators give money to the victims or victims family. The fight against violence against girls can take new turn when victims for some reasons only known to them request for cases against offenders to be dropped. A clear example is when Priscilla Agyei a girl alleged to have been raped by her proprietor, Mr. Enoch Lamptey Mills when she was a pupil in his school (Great Lamptey Mills Institute). This lady prayed the courts to acquit Mr. Mills by saying he had consensual sex with the man. This has therefore silenced CSOs and other gender group who were eager to see that the right of Priscilla is preserved

To some families, it is a shame for their daughters to be raped or assaulted, so they prefer to make sleeping dogs lie rather than bringing it into the public domain. Some heads of schools are also reluctant to report acts of violence committed against girls in their schools with the notion that it will bring shame upon their institutions.

In spite of all these it is an undeniable fact that violence against girls leads to absenteeism or drop out among girls, loss of self confidence and stigmatization, vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other STIs and poverty.

For violence against girls to be eliminated, certain bold steps need to be taken. The professional certificates of teachers who abuse girls should be confiscated by the state. It was very sad when a media house in Accra reported that a female teacher of a school is alleged to have inserted her fingers into the private parts of young girls who have been entrusted in her care.

Girls should also be taught both in schools and at homes to be assertive and be able to reject any advances made towards them by teachers and school mates. They also need to be made aware that it is never shameful to report acts of violence to the police. It is also important for DOVVSU to extend their outreach programs to schools. This when done will help check acts of violence.

GNECC wants to recommend that Ghana Education Service make it a requirement for schools to have guidance and counseling officers who would offer advice to girls who have been abused by their teachers and school mates. They can also help to teach girls how to resist and report attempts of sexual and verbal abuse meted out against them.

DOVVSU must also build its capacity to fight this menace by setting up more offices in the country. Girls can also feel confident enough to report cases when they have easy access to the offices of DOVVSU.

As stakeholders we need to reflect and work on these kind words of former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. "Education is the single most vital element in combating poverty, empowering women, protecting children from hazardous and exploitative labor and sexual exploitation, promoting human rights and democracy, protecting the environment and influencing population growth. Education is a path towards international peace and security".

*  Commentary by Awo Aidam Amenyah