The Comoros Ministry of Education has introduced a new measure to tackle harassment in schools by launching a platform on e-Msomo, allowing students to report teachers who harass them. This move has been widely welcomed, as harassment in schools remains a sad reality in the country. According to a report by the National Education Assemblies, over 44% of students surveyed reported being victims of harassment by their teachers.
The platform, which can be accessed using a student's school identity number as a code, allows victims to report their teachers after creating an account on the site. The Ministry of Education's Secretary General, Said Soulé, detailed the new initiative, which aims to provide a safe and confidential way for students to report incidents of harassment.
UNICEF has welcomed the initiative, praising the government's efforts to strengthen child protection against violence in schools. Echata Nouroudine, a UNICEF education specialist, noted that the platform should be part of a comprehensive framework to prevent and protect minors, including the designation of a focal point in each school, confidential support mechanisms, and a code of conduct for the educational community.
Local association "Petit Z'anges des Comores", which fights against rape and assault on minors, has also welcomed the initiative but raised some concerns. President Hissani Msahazi Rassoul questioned why the focus was on reporting incidents rather than preventing them, suggesting that investment in prevention measures, such as installing cameras, could be more effective in reducing harassment.
The judiciary has also given a favorable reception to the project, with a magistrate stating that it will facilitate faster and more numerous reports, which is a positive development. However, the magistrate suggested that to optimize follow-up, public prosecutors should have unrestricted access to the platform to avoid ignoring or suppressing alerts, particularly if the accused teacher has connections or support within their hierarchy.
The question of the platform's sustainability remains central, with Echata Nouroudine emphasizing that similar international experiences show that such a platform can facilitate the detection of violence if integrated into a comprehensive system based on confidentiality, accessibility, participation, and responsiveness. She stressed the importance of clarifying responsibilities and ensuring secure and adapted access for children.
Finally, concerns have been raised about the fate of teachers accused of harassment during procedures and the inclusivity of the platform for families without smartphones or mobile data. Echata Nouroudine recommended combining free channels, such as confidential mailboxes, a toll-free number, and trained listening agents, to ensure that all students have access to protection, regardless of their socio-economic background or abilities.
Key points
- The Comoros Ministry of Education has launched a platform on e-Msomo for students to report teacher harassment.
- UNICEF and local associations have welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about its implementation and sustainability.
- The platform's effectiveness will depend on its integration into a comprehensive system of child protection and support.
