Church of Pentecost warns teachers against sexual abuse and harassment of female students

The Church of Pentecost's Schools Outreach Ministry has cautioned teachers against sexually abusing, harassing, or bullying female students, emphasizing the importance of upholding professional ethics and safeguarding children's well-being. This warning was prompted by a report by the JoyNews Research Team, which uncovered at least 44 cases of sexual abuse involving teachers since 2015. School administrators were responsible for 40% of the recent cases identified by the team.

Rev. Joseph Buertey, the ministry's chairman, spoke at an event organized in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child. He condemned the behavior, stating that it was inconsistent with the fundamental responsibilities of educators. "If you are a teacher and you are abusing a girl, harassing a girl, you are sleeping with a girl, what it means is that you don’t understand your profession," he said.

Teachers are tasked with educating, empowering, and preparing students for the future, not exploiting them for personal gain. "You are there to teach these girls, you are there to empower them, you are there to build a future. You are not there to exploit them," Rev. Buertey asserted.

The ministry's warning also underscored the necessity of involving boys in conversations about girls' education, safety, and protection. Korle Klottey Municipal Education Director Ebenezer Perry Ofori highlighted the need to guide boys and help them comprehend the challenges their female counterparts face. He questioned whether sufficient attention was being given to boys while programs supporting girls continued.

"As we concentrate so much on the girls, we realize that the girls will be shining and shining and shining. What is happening to the boys?" he inquired. Ofori stressed the importance of raising boys and girls together to foster balance and mutual understanding, urging concerted efforts to ensure that both genders are supported equally.

A student participant, Celestine Kporfor, expressed her conviction about the significance of educating girls and appealed to parents and guardians to invest in their daughters' education, emphasizing its critical role in both personal development and national progress. "When you educate your daughter, you have made the best decision in this world," Kporfor stated.

The event convened students from various schools in the Korle Klottey Municipality to advocate for girls' education, increase awareness of their protection, and encourage stakeholders to create safer learning environments. This gathering is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard girls' rights and ensure that schools remain secure spaces for learning and personal growth.