August 2001 Insights Gender Violence Special Issue

Safe haven for girls: can teachers challenge gender violence?

Rape, sexual harassment, abuse, assault, homophobia - the list is endless. In South Africa, girls in particular are the victims of school-based violence. How can schools and their staff - part of the problem - become part of the solution?

Opening our eyes: addressing gender-based violence in South African schools - a module for educators has been developed as part of a 5 year partnership between the South African National Department of Education, McGill University in the USA and CIDA. The training manual is a response to the growing number of reports on the extent of gender-based violence in South African schools.

Successful implementation rests on the commitment of national and provincial governments to take seriously the magnitude of the problem.

Designed to be used at the school or district level with teachers, school management and governing bodies, the module draws on research supporting the belief that teachers must first possess the knowledge themselves in order to implement a curriculum of change. The 8 interactive workshops are intended to show school staff what is happening in their schools and how they can respond to gender violence. Specifically the workshops aim to:

• heighten awareness of what gender-based violence and sexual harassment are and why they happen
• provide tools and strategies for addressing gender-based violence
• increase awareness of the links between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS
• contribute to 'whole school' strategies for enhancing the culture of learning and teaching within a safe environment

• Local education authorities need to ensure that the workshops take place in every school in South Africa's nine provinces. This may be problematic because as gender officers often have other responsibilities besides gender or are only in an 'acting' capacity.
• The module is a professional development tool and not part of the national curriculum. There is a danger that it will get lost by the wayside.
• Teacher training establishments should also have access to the module for use with trainee teachers.
• Central to successful implementation is acknowledgment of the links between the module and HIV prevention.
• Strong leadership with a clear vision, targets for implementation, financial support and cross-country 'buy-in' are all prerequisites for successful nationwide training.