Module IX; PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THOSE
BASED ON GENDER
Main Objective: the module aim to strengthen the capacity of teachers on child protection
and the management of violence in schools.
Specific Objectives; to be able to;
Identify the different violence in school
Describe at least five children’s right applicable in educational establishments
Share five strategies used at schools and three roles of educational community in
terms of protecting children in the school environment
This module has four session
2. Child protection and Management of Violence in Schools
Definition of Concepts:
1. Protection: it is the act of caring for someone ensuring that nothing happen to them.
2. Child protection: prevention and response to situation of abused, neglect, exploitation and
violence of which children are victims.
3. Child Abuse: mistreatment of a child that is based on unequal power relationships e.g.
between a child and her/his parents, pupils and teachers. It may include;
1. Physical Abuse; this is the deliberate use of force on a child’s body that may result to
injury. E.g. slapping, lifting, burning, shaking, strangling. etc.
2. Sexual Abuse; rape, sexual assault and other sexual activities such as inappropriate
gestures, situations that the child does not fully understand and cannot give consent.
3. Emotional Abuse; persistent attack on a child and his/her sense of self e.g. be littling,
constant blaming or humiliation, isolation, bullying.
4. Child Neglect; is an act of omission. The failure to meet with a child’s basic needs when
the perpetrator has the ability or capacity to do so. It may include;
a, physical neglect; nutrition, clothing, hygiene,, health, protection from potential harm
b, Emotional neglect; failure to meet with the child’s development needs by not
providing enough affection, care, education and security.
5. Childs exploitation; this is any act involving a form of remuneration, in which the
exploiter benefits in one way or the other from the child.
6. Violence; it is the intentional use of physical force, threat against others, which is likely
to result in a trauma, psychological harm, developmental problems or death.
7. Gender; identity, historical, cultural and symbolic dimension of biological belonging to a
male or female sex.
8. Gender-Base Violence; any harmful act committed against a persons will and base on
gender differences and unequal power relations, between boy/girl, women/men. It can
be physical, sexual, socio-cultural etc.
Types of Violence in School
1. Physical violence; slaps, blows, fights between children
2. Psychological and emotional violence; depreciation, humiliation, isolation,
intimidation, insults, withdrawals of snacks etc.
3. Sexual violence; rape, inappropriate gestures of sexual nature, touching etc.
Case Study; Aminou & Fadimatou
Code of Conduct- Elements:
It is important to develop a code of conduct for teachers. This should be drawn in
collaboration with competent authorities and in which the main professional
standard/attitudes of teachers will be listed. The following elements may appear.
1. Don’t tap
2. Do not insult
3. Avoid degrading punishment for student
4. Don’t intimidate
5. Do not neglect or ignore
6. Do not stigmatize
Display passage against violence at school
SESSION 2
Children’s Rights Applicable in School Establishment
Definition; children’s rights are a branch of human rights, aiming at specific protection of a
child as a full human being. These rights are set out by international conventions.
Some Right Applicable in School
Nondiscrimination (2)
Taking into account their best interest in all decisions that concern them…(3)
The right to participate: promoting participatory management structures for children.
E.g. school children, government, clubs, role, playing games in school, projects, school com
> Life survival and development (6)
> The free expression of his opinion on any operations that concerns him
> An identity (12 Name and Nationality (8) family and parents
> Health and medical service (24, 25)
>social security (26)
> Leisure, recreational and cultural activities (31)
> An adequate standards of living (27)