Sexual abuse in schools

Schoolchildren face sexual harassment in schools in Herat and Ghor but the problem has never been taken seriously in the western zone, says the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

Students as young as 10 have complained to the commission. There were five cases in Herat alone last year, says Maleka Rasouli, deputy in AIHRC’s child rights section. From Ghor, 20 cases were reported from three schools.
Rasouli thinks there are many more cases of female students being harassed but their families are not ready to register a case for fear of scandal and disrepute for both them and the schoolgirl. Family honour is more important than the safety of the girl, she fears.

AIHRC thinks sexual harassment of students in the western zone has emerged as a serious concern because of the indifference of authorities in the government and education departments.
Rasouli alleges that even school principals may be involved. In one case, the principal and three teachers were accused of attempting to abuse 15 students.
Abdul Razaq Ahmadi, head of education, in Herat told Killid that the situation was the result of social upheaval and a committee to address students’ complaints has been established within the provincial education presidency. Ahmadi confirms he had dismissed a school principal and three teachers for sexual harassment. The charges, however, he adds are still under investigation by a committee that comprises representatives from the governor’s office, AIHRC, education presidency, attorney general office and Herat provincial council.
The head of education presidency, Khalil Ahmad Mubarez, in Ghor province says that not only girls but boys are also facing sexual harassment. But he did not say how many cases are known to the authorities.
There are cases of security guards in schools attacking male and female students.
Mubarez says the presidency has received complaints from two schools in Ferozkoh city. Since powerful individuals are linked to the incident, he says more details cannot be revealed. The incident was probed in the presence of teachers.
Ghor Governor Mohammad Naser Khazea told Killid no official complaints have been received. There are roughly 13,000 schoolchildren in the province. Some 2,000 have left their studies as a result of insecurity and poverty.

Badghis and Farah
Some local authorities in the two provinces admit some students could be victims of sexual harassment but no complaints have been officially made. Abdullah Mushwani, head of education in Badghis told Killid that the families are not keen to report the sexual harassment of their children.
Mohammad Anwar Eshaqzai, governor of Badghis, says the local government pays special attention to the safety of students. Should teachers molest children in school premises they would be handed over to the police, he adds.
Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesperson for the Farah governor, thinks the problem may be worse in remote areas where it is difficult to monitor schools because of lawlessness and insecurity.
Saber Farooqi, provincial head of education in Farah, wants schools to be monitored and students made aware of their rights to deal with the problem.
Some parents told Killid without revealing their names that teachers expect sexual favours from children in return for high marks. In Herat, they complain that the education presidency is indifferent to the reports of sexual abuse in schools. In fact, the education presidency supports the teachers, they allege.
Killid interviewed two students. Sajad (name changed) said his social science teacher told his class that they must agree to have sex if they want high marks. Jawad (name changed) said the government must take strict action against teachers who abuse schoolchildren.