EASTERN PRONVINCE GASTIBO— In the wake of escalating sexual crimes in schools across the country, teachers should protect children from such crimes. Many of these girls are chanced to be in school because they come from poor homes which were affected by the Genocide or HIV and are being assisted by different organizations like MAP, FARG, Global Fund and World Vision among others. However, the girls end up being victims of sexual offenses and have to abandon school at a tender age because of unwanted pregnancy. Boarding schools are the homes to many students for the biggest part of the year and even the day scholars spend most of their day at school. So if we are to go by the cliché, charity begins at home, and school being the home to many students, then highly plausible that if schools were strict, there would be less sexual offences committed against girls. In the Eastern province, Nyagatare was reported to have registered 136 sexual offenses last year in which some teachers were implicated. Head teachers should as a matter of urgency desist from condoning sexual offenses in schools. In Kiramuruzi alone, 10 school girls from ESI were reported to have fallen victims of greedy men, last year; they were impregnated, one of them by her own teacher. Many attributed the alarming number of pregnancy cases to the location of the school, saying its nearness to the trading center exposes girls to men who entice them with petty gifts without knowing the affair would ruin their future. Jeannette Dusabe, a school drop out, living in Rugarama, happens to be a victim of such circumstances having been lured into a relationship that ended in pregnancy. He promised to take care of me even after ‘O’ level, Dusabe recalls, but when I became pregnant, he denied responsibility of the pregnancy and has since disappeared, leaving me the burden of raising a child alone. Unfortunately Dusabe is an orphan who was being assisted by an NGO to pursue her education. Not only did she lose her chance of becoming a nurse, she laments, she is also stuck with the burden of raising a baby boy single handedly. Many young girls today find themselves in such predicaments making them mothers at an early age and forcing them to forego their education. However, what is unfortunate is that teachers are seen to be taking part in this worrying vice that is destroying the girl child. Teachers should act as role-models to the society and should be seen condemning these acts other than being part of the problem. The future of these girls depends on their success in education to become responsible mothers in society. This can only be achieved if they are protected from such vices. Parents should break the traditional mentality of shying away from discussing issues of sexuality with children. They should freely discuss with their daughters about the body changes as they grow and guide children accordingly. If children are left to learn from society, they would become more susceptible. It is also important for every responsible citizen to guard school girls against sexual crimes.Ends
