Effect of popular music culture on violence against girls in primary schools: Challenges and measures

Gender violence in and around school has been recognised in recent years as a serious global phenomenon. Studies from around the world show that, gender violence is a major feature of school life for many adolescent pupils, especially girls. The very purpose of schools is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, the reality for many girls is that schools represent a security threat that is considered better to be avoided by some parents, especially when girls are transitioning from childhood into adolescence. Girls continue to face many obstacles to learning. Safety within the school is an oft-cited, but perhaps less well understood, determinant of children's, especially girls’, participation in basic education. As this report shows, violence toward girls in schools is pervasive and worldwide. An unsafe learning environment is among the reasons that girls discontinue their studies or parents refuse to enrol and keep their daughters in school. Violence against girls has continued to emerge as a key player in pushing girls out of the formal education system compared with the boys. Studies show that more girls than boys leave school to escape the violence involved (USAID 2003). School attendance and failing academically due to violence-related reasons are manifestations of the denial of girl's rights not only to education but also their rights in education and through education. Violence damages girls’ health, social and psychological development and impedes learning. Further, gender-based violence is perpetuated by a culture of silence informally maintained by victims, teachers, peers and parent and by the school's weak compliance with protective policies. This paper traces important areas of progress as well as the gaps and challenges in global perspective.