Cameroon

Nalova Lyonga Issues Warning on Gender-Based Violence in Schools

Cameroon’s Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, has delivered a stern warning regarding the escalating issue of gender-based violence within educational institutions.

In a recent communication directed at Regional Delegates, Divisional Delegates, Education Secretaries, and Heads of both Government and Private Institutions, Professor Nalova Lyonga expressed her deep concern over the rising instances of physical, psychological, and moral violence in schools.

“Some of these acts are gender-based. They are committed by students, teachers, and administrative staff. Beyond the unnoticeable suffering and health consequences, gender-based violence causes anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression, with negative impacts on school performances,” emphasized Nalova Lyonga in the release.

In an effort to foster a safe and supportive environment while combating this increasingly prevalent issue, Nalova Lyonga outlined the following measures:

  1. Establishment of a local coordination team dedicated to fighting violence by creating functional mechanisms for the prevention, response, support, and referral of students/teenagers.
  2. Capacity-building initiatives for teachers, guidance counselors, Youth and Animation Counselors, and other educational institutions on Gender-Based Violence in schools (GBVMS).
  3. Implementation of secure procedures to collect information, including mini-surveys, on cases of violence, with collaboration from administrative, security, and municipal authorities.
  4. Training and awareness campaigns targeting teachers, school personnel, parents, and students on expected principles, values, and attitudes. The prohibition of behavior that may lead to disciplinary and/or legal consequences.
  5. Prohibition of the publication or distribution of private papers, recordings, drawings, photographs, films, or any other device reproducing sexual images of a student, with or without their consent, or any other person.
  6. Encouragement of student victims to disclose information, preferably in writing, directly to the appointed contact person.
  7. Counseling services, with referrals to appropriate external services such as legal, psychosocial, and health services for victims.

The Minister of Secondary Education emphasized that non-compliance with these measures would result in severe sanctions according to the law. The outlined steps aim to create a safer and more secure learning environment for all students, free from gender-based violence and its detrimental consequences.

Mimi Mefo Info

Amina Hilda

Recent Posts

Fako Trade Unions Decry Non-payment of Salaries at Labour Day Celebration

Some trade unions in Fako Division, South West Region, are urging for better working conditions…

3 hours ago

Bokwaongo Royal Family Rejects Njie Mbonde’s Designation as Chief

By Tata Mbunwe The designation of journalist Albert Njie Mbonde as Chief of Bokwaongo village…

3 hours ago

Menka Village Responds to Separatist Attacks: Kidnapping and Recovery of Stolen Equipment

Youths in Menka, a village in the Pinyin area of Cameroon’s North West Region, have…

5 hours ago

Limbe Hosts 139th International Labour Day Celebrations

The 139th edition of International Labour Day is being marked in Limbe with an official…

6 hours ago

10-Month-Old Baby Abducted in Brutal Attack on Mother

A 10-month-old baby girl, Bih Irene, has been reported missing following a violent assault on…

8 hours ago

La création d’une filiale pétrolière à Kribi sous la présidence de l’épouse du DG de la SNH crée la controverse

Un communiqué publié cette semaine a annoncé la création de CSTAR, une société de projet…

8 hours ago