Kasese district local government and RWECO have signed an MoU to retool teachers in prevention of violence against children. RWECO facilitated the Office of the District Education department to carry out the training in 8 Primary schools in the first phase in Kitswamba SDA, Nkaiga,
Kyanya, Karusandara SDA, Ibuga, Kenyange Muslim, Kiburara and St. Johns
Bukangara. Teachers trained were 113 (65m, 48f) on prevention of VAC and alternative punishments, handling of deviant
pupils who are usually victims of VAC. Two staff of the education were assigned to work with RWECO: Ms. Harriet Kahangwa focal person for FAWE and Mr. Richard the regional FAWE officer. The training was conducted at every school and all teachers were targeted as suggested by the D.E.O that other than holding a central training, the teachers needed the skills in prevention of VAC since it was already provided for in the education department workplan but had no funds.
The teachers who were trained appreciated the knowledge and skills gained,they called for more refresher trainings in the field of VAC prevention since as parents they were faced with a double challenges " we as teachers face a double challenge, we spend the whole day with children even when we reach home, we spend more time with children, all our lives is talking and shouting to children"
 |
| Teachers posing for a photo after the training, with the FAWE regional focal person |
On other hand, the teachers refresher training was also tailored to the professional code of conduct of teachers, thus as part of professional development the training was timely.
 |
| Ms. Harriet second from right,posing with teachers after the training |
From the refresher training of teachers, it was realised that violence against children was common and happens most often in communities including school settings:
Causes of violence against children include: Bad cultural beliefs and practices
such as child marriage, child labor, denial of education to girl children among
others continue to undermine the implementation and enforcement of child
protection laws in Uganda.
Societal acceptance of violence against children as
a way of correcting them and enforcing discipline is a common perception
especially among parents and guardians.
Immoral behaviors and practices such as violence in
the families and communities sometimes make children become violent such as bullying
and gang fighting.
Increasing levels of drug and addictive alcohol
drinking resulting to domestic violence which puts children as the most
vulnerable group.
Poverty; where some girls are forced into
prostitution and child labor so as to earn a living that puts them at a risk of
HIV/AIDS and early pregnancies it also exposes learners to high levels of
vulnerabilities.
Corruption and belief in bribery where parents of
children who are offended do not report or with draw cases when they know that
the offender is capable of giving them a bribe or dowry, even in courts of law
corruption also leads to unfair judgment.
Over dependency on single bread winner and lack of
economic empowerment of women which fuels domestic violence this has a lot of
effects on children.
Ignorance about children’s rights, war and
displacement, divorce / broken families Poor upbringing of the children by the
parents causes violence in schools. Like
poor dressing code of parents affects children and sharing of small rooms with
children.
Absenteeism or irregularities of both teachers and
pupils, Negative attitude of both , parents, teachers and pupils towards
education in certain areas, Late coming for both pupils and teachers,
Illiteracy, peer influence , Transfer of anger , Negligence , Orphanage status
, long illness and Parenting gaps
Exposure
of children to sexual activities like pornography and kind of houses we stay in,
when a teacher does not take remedial teaching, Poor attendance leads to
school lack of control and cheating of the content, inadequate preparation like
schemes and lesson plans causes violence.
The
teachers appreciated the efforts RWECO has put to reduce on violence against
children and adolescents in schools and surrounding communities, the teachers agreed
to the following alternative punishments. Form school family initiative where
pupils from P1-P7 are divided among the teachers and set a day in a week
for sitting and handle their psycho-social issues , drop the cane and use other
alternative means of punishments like pupil
can be sent out to the head teachers office for 5 minutes, apology verbal ,
letter writing to the teacher offended , having cards in class and then given
to talkative, a teacher can withdraw privileges of these
children like denial pupils to play in the school football team for a week ,
detention for instance one missing exams it can be given to him or her during
games time when others are playing. behavior contract between a teacher and
pupils, community service like if there is an elderly person around the school
the pupil can clean the compound, demerit box be put in place, students court
like deciding for the talkative to sit on the front chair near the teachers are
among the alternative punishment.
The trained teachers were thus called upon to be agents of change and children's rights activists
Compiled by
Margret Kidima
Project Officer CRVP
