A gender advocate, Mrs.Agnes Winjobi,has advocated the need for stiff legislation against school related gender-based violence with a view to stopping the act in Nigeria
She suggested that the perpetrators of the act should also be dealt with according to the law.
She said government should restructure the school curriculum to reflect SRGBV content.
She spoke recently at the International Women’s Day celebration at Osogbo Grammar School, where she advised that government should restructure the school curriculum to reflect SRGBV content, while students should report any of the warning signs seen in any student to parents, teachers or school authority.
She added: “You can report anonymously any teacher or adult’s violent behaviors. Report to any adult until something is done.Reach out to people. Reach out to children or other people at school who seem to be angry or upset. People who appear fascinated with violence. Reach out to any child whether bullied or bullying or who seem to have anxiety, depression or trouble managing emotion”.
According to her, parents should train their children early enough on value re-orientation, school should organize seminars around the issue of gender based violence.
Teachers,she said, should take seriously the three domains of education: affective, cognitive and psychomotor but paying special attention to affective in class.
She emphasized the need for training and retraining of school counselors in early warning signs of SRGBV .
She advised non-governmental organizations to be in constant touch with schools so as to sensitize them to the menace.
She spoke on consequences of sexual related gender-based violence, saying it
affects the ability to get to and from school without fear.
She said:”It affects their ability to learn effectively while in school and to remain there long enough to reap the benefits which may eventually keep the whole family entrapped in the cycle of poverty.
“Physical violence causes bruises, cuts, scratches, sprains dislocation, broken bones permanent damage or disfigurement.Sexual violence may result in sexually transmitted diseases
“Unwanted pregnancy making the victim to seek for illegal abortion which has its own consequences.It can damage relationships with families and friends.Emotionally there may be depression and anxiety”.
