Government launches 'Safe School’ project to fight GBV in schools

Arusha. The government has launched a project dubbed 'Safe School' in a bid to fight gender-based violence (GBV) in learning centres, particularly for the young.

The initial focus will be training of education officers from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga, Coast, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Iringa regions.

"The aim is to ensure that schools are safe from sexual assaults," said Dr Charles Msonde, the deputy permanent secretary in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government -PORALG) responsible for education.

He revealed this last week when he opened one of the training stints on the guidelines needed to make the school safe from GBV.

The training attracted education officers from various regions, the district, municipal and city councils and the secondary schools.

Dr Msonde emphasized that the fight against GBV, especially against girls students, must be given priority by all stakeholders in the education sector because such acts can ruin their future.

"Our kids must be safe from any form of sexual molestations or violence. School administrations should be serious on this", he emphasized.

He warned the management of the schools not to condone such acts as they tend to affect the minors psychologically, noting that whoever was behind this were punished.

"We should be serious on this. Any sign of GBV must be contained before it impacted the learning process," he pointed out.

According to Dr Msonde, scores of the young learners have been forced out of schools after being sexually assaulted or subjected to other forms of violence.

"Our children must be safe while at their respective homes, on the way to schools, and back to home," he said, urging the parents to play their role in fighting GBV.