By Ishimael Danirayi Tabe
Masvingo-Schools should be places of safety, learning, and hope. Every child has the right to attend school without fear of violence, abuse, discrimination, or humiliation. Yet for many learners, gender-based violence (GBV) remains a hidden reality that threatens their education, health, and future. As communities work towards achieving quality and inclusive education, addressing gender-based violence in schools must become everyone’s responsibility.
Gender-based violence in schools refers to any harmful act directed at a learner because of their sex or gender. It is not limited to physical assault. It includes sexual abuse, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, discrimination, bullying, and harmful cultural practices that deny children equal opportunities to learn and develop. Both girls and boys experience gender-based violence, although they often face different forms of abuse.
One of the most serious concerns is sexual violence involving learners. Cases of teachers abusing their authority to groom, manipulate, or sexually exploit learners continue to be reported across different communities. Because of the unequal power relationship between teachers and learners, many victims feel unable to refuse, report, or seek help. Peer-to-peer sexual violence, including rape, attempted rape, and unwanted sexual touching, also occurs in schools, hostels, toilets, and on routes to and from school. Transactional sex, where vulnerable learners exchange sexual favours for money, sanitary products, airtime, gifts, or better grades, further exposes children to exploitation and lifelong trauma.
Sexual harassment is another form of violence that often goes unnoticed. Learners may endure inappropriate sexual comments, jokes, insults about their bodies, unwanted touching, forced kissing, or online abuse through the sharing of explicit images without consent. Such behaviour creates fear, lowers self-esteem, and interferes with academic performance.
Gender-based violence also includes physical and emotional abuse linked to harmful gender stereotypes. Girls may be subjected to harsher punishment for behaviour considered unacceptable, while boys who do not conform to traditional expectations of masculinity may be mocked or physically assaulted. Bullying based on gender, body shaming, exclusion from leadership opportunities, and discrimination against learners who challenge gender stereotypes all undermine children’s dignity and confidence.
Harmful cultural practices continue to deny many children their right to education. Child marriage forces many girls to leave school before completing their education, while stigma surrounding menstruation causes some girls to miss valuable learning time because of inadequate sanitation facilities or lack of menstrual hygiene products. Pregnant learners also face discrimination and social isolation when they should instead receive support to continue their education in line with national policy.
Many cases of gender-based violence remain hidden because learners fear retaliation, punishment, or disbelief. Some schools lack trusted reporting systems, while communities may choose to resolve serious cases privately instead of involving the appropriate authorities. In some instances, teachers, parents, and community members fail to recognise certain behaviours as forms of gender-based violence, allowing abuse to continue unchecked. Poor infrastructure, including unsafe toilets, inadequate lighting, insecure boarding facilities, and long distances travelled to school, further increases learners’ vulnerability.
Creating safe schools requires commitment from everyone. Every school should have a clear child protection and gender-based violence policy that promotes zero tolerance for abuse. Learners must have access to safe and confidential reporting channels through guidance and counselling teachers, Child Protection Focal Persons, school administrators, and child protection services such as Childline. Schools should provide secure, separate, and lockable sanitation facilities, especially for girls, while boarding institutions must ensure adequate supervision and safety measures. Comprehensive life skills education should equip learners with knowledge about personal safety, consent, respectful relationships, and reporting mechanisms. Survivors of violence must receive counselling, medical attention where necessary, and protection from further victimisation or punishment for speaking out.
The fight against gender-based violence in schools is not the responsibility of educators alone. Parents, communities, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, law enforcement agencies, and government institutions all have an important role in protecting children. When children feel safe, respected, and valued, they are more likely to attend school regularly, participate confidently, and reach their full potential.
Every learner deserves a school environment free from fear and violence. By breaking the silence, strengthening protection systems, and promoting respect and equality, Zimbabwe can build schools where every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Tabe is an Education Analyst | Inclusive Education and Child Protection Advocate who writes in his own capacity.
