Sexual violence and girls’ performance in Rwandan schools: a case study of some 12 year basic education schools in Muhanga District

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the nature of sexual violence among schoolgirls in Rwanda and its impact on their school performance. In addition to the structured questionnaire administered to 182 respondents sampled from four 12 YBE schools in Muhanga District and the interviews, the study used respondents' grades at the Ordinary Level national examinations of 2012 to validate the study hypotheses.

As for the nature of sexual violence faced, the study indicates that a half of adolescent schoolgirls experience either sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. The major causes of sexual violence include perpetrators who pretend to be inoffensive while committing sexual abuse; curiosity of adolescents to perform sexual acts and the need for money and/or materials. The main perpetrators of sexual violence against schoolgirls include their boyfriends, schoolboys, relatives living with the victims and family friends. The findings show also that sexual violence is one of the factors for the girls‟ low school performance.

Keywords: Sexual violence, schoolgirls, school performance, 12 YBE