Sexual abuse in schools traumatizes victims and exposes them to health risks – NPP Communicator
Hubert Dumakawe Jimah calls for stronger laws, effective prosecution and an end to the culture of silence surrounding sexual abuse in schools.
A member of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Navrongo, Hubert Dumakawe Jimah has warned that sexual abuse in schools causes severe psychological trauma and exposes victims to potential health risks.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Friday October 23, Jimah said the country’s systems had failed to adequately protect students from sexual abuse in educational institutions.
He argued that the effective enforcement of deterrent laws and the imposition of appropriate punishments on offenders would compel people to think twice before engaging in such acts.
According to him, female students in senior high schools are entrusted to teachers for education, guidance and mentorship and should not be subjected to exploitation or abuse.
He lamented that while teachers are expected to nurture and prepare the next generation for the future, some allegedly engage in conduct that leaves students emotionally and psychologically traumatised.
Jimah further noted that sexual abuse could be particularly distressing for victims who experience sexual intercourse for the first time under such circumstances, especially when it occurs without their consent.
He also raised concerns about the potential health consequences, warning that sexual abuse could expose victims to sexually transmitted infections and other health complications, potentially placing additional financial burdens on their families.
The TESCON member expressed concern that victims, who bear no responsibility for the abuse inflicted on them, are often left to cope with psychological trauma and possible health complications, while discussions about such incidents sometimes become politicised.
He therefore called for stronger laws and the effective prosecution of persons found guilty of sexual abuse in schools, insisting that appropriate punishment would serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.
Jimah also stressed the need to break the culture of silence surrounding sexual abuse in educational institutions to ensure that victims receive the necessary protection and support and that perpetrators are held accountable.
Mike 105.3 FM I Navrongo | Espenezer Webonga
