TEACHERS’ REACTION TOWARDS SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE MANZINI REGION

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the reaction of teachers towards sexual harassment by students in high schools in the Manzini region. The objectives were to determine the attitude, reaction, and teachers’ perceptions of why learners sexually harass them. The study applied a mixed method design which employed self-administered questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Random sampling technique, which involved a total of 80 teachers was used to select the sample. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS while qualitative data were analyzed using Framework Analysis. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) were used the determine attitudes and perceptions while inferential statistics (T-test) was used to compare responses of male and female participants. Results show that most teachers do not take kindly to sexual advancements from learners. They dislike advances such as kissing, familiarity such as using sexy or pet names, inappropriate touching etc. In addition, male and female teachers react differently to sexual harassment by students. Female teachers report stress, depression including reaction through punishment
such as beating, ignoring learners, developing a negative attitude towards them, etc. In contrast, some male teachers welcome sexual advancement from female students. Teachers contend that girls particularly do harass teachers to seek emotional and financial support. The study recommends that learners need to be made aware that sexual harassment is a crime regardless of whether it is committed by a minor to an adult.