Abstract
This article is based on the findings of a recent small scale
qualitative case study of sexual harassment in schools in a specific
school district in South Africa. The purpose was to explore and
describe the notion of sexual harassment in schools in the Vryheid
school district in South Africa. The study is framed within an
educational, organisational and legal perspective on the phenomenon as
set out by Duke (2002). It revealed that the tenets of sexual harassment
amongst pupils are imbedded in what constitute a safe and secure
school, namely healthy, orderly and caring space; effective leadership
and the good conduct of teachers and pupils. The researchers attempted
to develop guidelines for the school management from the views
expressed by the participants after finding that the situation on the
ground is worse than what most education leaders expected and that
there is an urgent need for management guidelines to bring about
immediate improvement in the lives of pupils. The following guidelines
are suggested: Installation of electronic gadgets, body search of pupils,
revision of the suspension powers for School Governing Bodies,
extension of the feeding scheme to high schools, involvement of
community leaders, re-introduction of religious doctrine in schools,
invitation to whistle blowers to report incidences.
Pierre du Plessis, Tom Bisschof, Eke Chukwu. (2009) Sexual Harassment in Schools is not “Routine Adolescence” – A Case Study in the Vryheid School District of South Africa, Journal of Research and Reflections in Education, Volume 3, Issue 2.
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