Preventing SEAH in formal and informal schools in Nigeria - the role of CSOs

Children and students in both formal and non-formal educational settings face varying levels of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) and other safeguarding harm. The Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub in Nigeria (RSH), consulted CSOs who are implementing educational programmes to understand the risks and how CSOs can help mitigate harm in the educational setting in Nigeria. The consultation revealed the following findings that will form the basis of the discussion:

• CSOs and NGOs in Nigeria get involved in education programmes through a variety of activities namely supporting universal basic education by promoting access, equity, quality basic education, girl education, school improvement, teaching and learning. The diversity of activity means that the risks of PSEA need to be considered for each area of support.

• The risks of SEAH and other forms of harm in educational programmes identified from the consultation can be clustered into 3 categories – child to child, travel to/from the educational setting, at the education setting.

• The most at risk groups including: boys, as they may be at more at risk of being bullied than girls. Children with disabilities which can include body shaming and name calling, minority groups (tribal or religious affiliations), poor performing children, child brides and pregnant girls.

• Examples of other risks of harm at the educational setting include inappropriate body touching by teachers or other staff, discrimination, harassment by teachers as well as corporal punishment. Harm and abuse occurs more in areas with fewer people such as in the toilet area, science and computer laboratories, stairs and dormitories if in a boarding school. RSH works at the institutional level to support national organisations delivering aid to mitigate the above safeguarding risks through a number of different areas such as the promotion and implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures, training and sensitisation and advocacy to the government.