Violence in schools: Stakeholders implement a reporting and support mechanism

Educational authorities aim to strengthen the prevention and management of violence in schools. Through the Project for Improving the Quality and Outcomes of Education (PAPSE), they have established a complaints management mechanism (CMM). This mechanism was the subject of a scoping and harmonization workshop in Thiès.

The objective is to enable students, teachers and other education stakeholders to more easily report cases of violence and ensure their rapid transmission to the appropriate structures.

According to Abdoulaye Gningue, the education and training inspector (IEF) of Diamniadio, several channels will be used to facilitate reporting. "Through platforms like Sirène and WhatsApp groups, it will be possible to report any cases of violence in schools so that they can be addressed quickly," he explained.

Focal points in home education

The mechanism also relies on a system of focal points at the level of the education and training inspectorates (IEF). Their role will include receiving complaints, ensuring their escalation, and contributing to their processing by the relevant departments.

The system will also be deployed as close as possible to the institutions. In schools and Daaras, designated teachers will be appointed to serve as local points of contact for those who are confronted with or witness situations of violence.

Thus, a student or other member of the educational community can turn to this designated teacher to report a situation and receive guidance towards the appropriate structures.

The Daaras are also integrated into the system

The mechanism is not limited to traditional schools. Daaras are also integrated, with the involvement of the "ndéyou daaras" and the Koranic teachers.

These actors will notably have the responsibility of contributing to the reporting of information to the IEF when a case of violence targeting a student or a teacher is brought to their attention.

Through this mechanism, PAPSE primarily intends to make the handling of complaints more structured and to allow a rapid response to violence in schools, by bringing together reporting mechanisms for students and the various actors in the educational community.