Female Students‟ Perception On Sexual Harassmentand Preventions Practices In Selected Public High Schools: The Case Of Holta Town, West Shoa Zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to explore female students’ perception on the sexual harassment in the study area. Sexual harassment could affect female students’ achievements and creates hostile learning environments. Similarly, it excludes female students from sports and male dominated curricular activities in and around school environment. The study applied descriptive type of research design. Mixed quantitative and qualitative data were used from randomly selected samples using questionnaire, and key informant interview. The data have been analyzed by descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency), using SPSS software. The qualitative data were used to substantiate the responses of the questionnaire. Major findings of the Study include: There is high prevalence of different forms of sexual harassment against girls at the public schools in the study area. Interestingly, however, majority of the target victims were not aware of the different forms of the prevailing sexual harassment at the schools. Among others, sexual harassment against girls at the study area is caused due to the misbehaving of the female students themselves and peer pressures. It was also found out that sexual harassment against girls in the target study area is a deliberate act. Nervousness and uncomfortable moods were identified to be the major consequences resulted from sexual harassment. Though it is not theintended objective of this study, such outcomes, if they might be explored further, could have significant impact on the girls’ learning outcomes or academic performances. It was found out that there is no formal structure, intervention or support in responsive to the different forms of harassment girls encountered in the study area. Oral advice and dismissal were the two major remedial actions identified against sexual harassment at the target schools. Thus, it needs step forward interventions; such as integrating legal considerations into school code of conduct, and curriculum, improving enabling environment for girls, creating awareness, establish and strengthening girls’ empowerment platforms or clubs, increasing inter sectorial stakeholders’ engagement and coordination.