Teachers turning predators

Recent disturbing reports of teachers abusing pupils have cast a dark shadow over the education sector, highlighting that not all in the teaching profession are driven by a genuine passion to develop and inspire young minds. Similarly, it's clear that not all police officers are motivated solely by crime prevention. These incidents have ignited urgent calls for stronger collaboration between school heads and parents to establish clear protocols on how teaching staff should interact with pupils.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, while responsible for drafting guidelines on this critical matter, cannot be solely relied upon for rapid solutions, as policy development is often slow and bureaucratic. However, the growing number of abuse cases demands swift and targeted responses at the school and community level.

Stakeholders agree that schools and parent committees should initiate regular educational sessions during assemblies to teach children about what constitutes abuse by teachers and how to report it safely. Designating trusted staff members or school counselors as confidential points of contact for pupils to report abuse is a vital step. The Ministry can then follow up by refining protocols and providing oversight.

Experts note that such structures will also help address bullying, another traumatic issue affecting many children. However, concerns remain about the integrity of these designated "point persons," as it is crucial to ensure they themselves are not predators.

Recent cases from Mkwasine and Mberengwa have exposed glaring weaknesses in school oversight. In both instances, perpetrators-one a teacher and the other a deputy school head-fled before they could be arrested, leaving victims vulnerable. In Mkwasine, abuse occurred repeatedly over time without detection, while at Mberengwa, the scale of abuse went unnoticed, likely due to absentee school leadership. Thankfully, a vigilant teacher's intervention at Mberengwa prevented further harm.

While schools and the Ministry work to review and improve their systems, counselling services are being provided to the affected pupils to help them heal.

These incidents have sparked understandable anxiety among parents and the wider community, with urgent calls for immediate reforms to strengthen oversight of teacher conduct and safeguard pupil welfare.

By adopting these recommendations, schools can transform into safer, more supportive environments-places where children look forward to learning, rather than fear attending.