The Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation, CEGRAD, University of Cape Coast has held a stakeholder workshop for Girls’ Education Officers of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Central region.

The workshop was aimed at equipping officers with the required knowledge and skills to effectively handle defilement cases.

Held at the University of Cape Coast, it was on the theme: “Defilement, the Law and the Role of Girls Education Officers.”

The Coordinator of Advocacy and Outreach for CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Theresah Addai-Mununkum, speaking on the topic: “Gender and Sexual Harassment Issues in Education Institutions”, said that sexual harassment was a gender issue because “we have more females who suffer as victims and we have more males who are perpetrators.”

However, she was quick to add that the key perpetrators of sexual harassment were men, while admitting that both men and women could engage in sexual harassment.

She mentioned untold poverty, gender orientation as submissive women had made women vulnerable in the society.

Coordinator of Advocacy and Outreach for CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Theresah Addai-Mununkum

Coordinator of Advocacy and Outreach for CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Theresah Addai-Mununkum

The Coordinator noted that some ill-minded teachers with their selfish desire had their ways with female students in the Basic and Senior High Schools.

Dr. Addai-Mununkum indicated that sexual harassment was on the rise as a result of power inequalities, age, money and exaggerated men power over women.

She advised the Education Officers to be observant of the students and the interactions between students and teachers.

She told them to educate the teachers and staff on sexual harassment issues and report offenders to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVSSU) as well as to organize training workshops for parents.

The Director of CEGRAD-UCC, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro, who treated the topic:” GES policy and the handling of defilement cases: The Role of the Girls Education Officers”, entreated the participants in the workshop to read the GES Resource Handbook to be abreast of their roles as education officers to curb the alarming rate of sexual harassment.

Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro, Director of CEGRAD-UCC

Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro, Director of CEGRAD-UCC

She urged them to be conversant with some of the sexual terms being used by students so as to caution students against premarital sex because of its negative effects on their education.

The Director expressed concern about the increasing rate of social vices in the senior high schools and advised students to shun them in order to further their education to become responsible citizens in future.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC