245.Sexual abuse and violence in schools has been a problem faced by the country’s
education sector. Sexual abuse means any forma of sexual contact without
consent either among colleagues, and between teachers and students. This is an
issue involving families and communities.
246.There has been a considerable decline in the number of teachers who become
involved with students. Only 3 incidents have been reported, leading to the
expulsion of the teachers concerned. Nonetheless, schools continue to report
pregnancy cases due to sexual abuse involving students, relatives of female
adolescents, community members and individuals working for various
institutions. According to information obtained from the various provinces, a
total of 100 cases were reported to the Ministry of Education in 2010.
247.When teachers become involved in this type of situation, the following measures
shall apply:
Parents and relatives of students who have been victims of sexual abuse are
encouraged to report incidents;
Disciplinary action against teachers who have become sexually involved with
students in terms of Decree № 39/2003;
Compliance with Article 11 of the General Civil Servant and State Agent
Statutes, whereby teachers “should not overstep their professional
relationship with students for whatever purpose”.
248.When sexual abuse involves students, teachers report the matter to the school
authorities and in conjunction with the school Board they should seek a solution
to the problem. Depending on the seriousness of any given case, the school
should find the best way of retaining students, thereby preventing them from
dropping out of school and being discriminated against by other students. The
school shall resort to legal institutions which campaign against violence and for
the prevention of sexual abuse as a means of sensitizing other students and
encouraging class rooms to report those who are involved in such practices.
There have been, however, difficulties in punishing sexual violence and sexual
harassment, especially when it involves female students and members of the
community and/or people working for sectors other than education.
249.Aware that sexual abuses hinder the learning process, in particular among female
students, thereby leading to an increase in the number of students who fail or
leave school, the Ministry of Education has since 2003 been making efforts to
reduce the number of incidents in schools.
250. Parliament has approved Order № 39/2003 (protecting students, notably girls),
the Code of Code for school professionals (responsibilities, rights and duties), the
integration of Articles 46, 47, 48 and 52 of the Basic Education Rules, among
other documents. Other measures include a zero tolerance policy on sexual
harassment/abuse and a number of activities aimed at reducing the number of
students who drop out of school, namely:
Combined Report from the Republic of Mozambique to the ACHPR, 1999-2010
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