Gender-based violence and its impact to secondary school students’ education participation, retention and performance

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) in schools is a global concern perpetuated by gender norms, relations and stereotypes; and influenced by the gender socialisation processes. GBV is not only a human right and public health issue, but also an educational one as it limits the ability of students to realise their education privileges with regards to participation, retention and performance. GBV affects male and female students alike, but with a different outcome. Girls are more affected due to decision-making power, context and the persistent societal gender norms. While various GBV-related studies have focused at household settings through quantitative or qualitative approaches, this study investigated diverse socio-cultural and gender-related issues in rural and urban school settings in Bagamoyo and Chalinze districts, Coastal region, through a mixed approach. The study engaged 220 respondents, including 155 students and 65 adults. The findings show that GBV among students emanate from home, school and community environments, and they include: early and forced marriages, forced termination of school, forced sexual affairs, threats, bad cultural practices, female genital mutilation, corporal punishment, heavy punishment, and rape. GBV-related outcomes that affect female students were manifested in terms of poor performance at school, early engagement in sexual relationships, early pregnancies, dropping-out, truancy, disability or complications during child-birth, STIs and HIV, and eloping from home. For males, the outcomes included early engagement in sexual affairs, truancy, poor school performance, and school drop-outs. The study concludes that GBV and its associated implications in schools demand a multi-dimensional approach for effective interventions.