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24 June, 1995
All students at Gweru Teachers’ College were yesterday expelled after they demonstrated against the suspension of another student teacher who had been allegedly having an affair with a Form Three pupil where he had been doing his teaching practice. The Ministry of Higher Education gave the college principal, Mr Potipher Nhenga, the directive to send home the entire student body of about 800 students.
By 11am yesterday, all students had been herded off the college premises by the anti-riot police.
In a telephone interview, Mr Nhenga said the students took to the streets when a student teacher, Jetham Nhemachena, had been suspended after allegedly having an affair with a pupil.
The headmaster where he was doing his teaching practice had lodged a complaint with the college and a disciplinary committee resolved to have Nhemachena suspended.
Nhemachena had after his suspension told the Student Representative Council that he had been expelled from college and allegedly incited them to demonstrate in his favour.
The students will have to reapply for admission at the college after two weeks and they will only admitted on merit.
Lessons for today
Teachers’ conduct towards their students should be monitored and students need to be protected from possible abuse or manipulation.
Having a romantic or sexual relationship with an under-age student is a shocking exploitation of power.
Sexual abuse of children is a human rights violation affecting all age groups within childhood globally, thus schools must make sure that they create a safe environment for all children.
Higher and Tertiary education students face the same challenge from tutors and lecturers who sometime demand sexual favours in exchange of higher grades from their vulnerable students.
Sometimes students experience unwanted physical touching, verbal sexual commentary, and homophobic name-calling in the halls and classrooms.
Schools should draft and enforce a solid anti-harassment policy. Such a policy should clearly state what type of conduct is unacceptable and provide examples. The policy should also explain what will happen if it is violated, namely that the person violating it will be subject to discipline up to and including termination/expulsion.
The policy should describe the complaint procedure and provide a list of administrators that an employee or student can go to with a harassment complaint. Furthermore, the policy should discuss confidentiality and the protections available against retaliation.
Schools should clearly communicate to employees and students that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. They can do so by providing sexual harassment training to their employees and students, and by establishing an effective complaint or grievance process and taking immediate and appropriate action when an employee or student complains.
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