Togo pupils 'beaten by teachers'

Plan International says its survey of 1,000 children in 35 villages reveals that the dream of getting an education turns into a nightmare at school.

But it says some child victims have formed support groups and persuaded the authorities to protect them.

Plan said Togo's ministry of education was promising to address the issues.

The report, Suffering to succeed? also draws on interviews with many adults including parents, teachers, traditional chiefs, members of the security forces, social workers and others.

Beaten

The report said eight out of 10 children said they were regularly beaten at school.

A nine-year-old girl who had given correct answer in class said she was given a rubber whip and told to hit those who got things wrong.

When she did not hit them hard, the teacher took the whip from her and beat her until he broke the skin on her back, the report said.

One girl in 25 said she had suffered sexual violence.

There were references to "sexually transmitted marks" - revealing, the report said, "a sad truth about how youngsters see the sexual favours many male teachers expect in exchange for the grades they give teenage girls."

But boys often resented what they saw as the girls' "privilege", blaming them for trying to seduce teachers.

Resources

The study said many teachers were poorly trained and paid and operating in crumbling schools.

Plan's representative in Togo, Stefanie Conrad, told the BBC News website she had received a sympathetic hearing from the minister of education.

"He has said he welcomes this research as one means to improve the overall educational weaknesses," she said.

An economic embargo - in protest at the lack of democracy in Togo - meant resources were very limited.

And she said there was a culture throughout West Africa in which violence against children was regarded as nothing unusual.

Fighting back

Polygamy encouraged early marriage, and exploitation and abusive behaviour against women.

But recently a group of girls who had suffered at school went on the radio to talk about their experiences, without identifying individual teachers.

"Afterwards they received a number of threats through teachers and school directors," Ms Conrad said.

Plan then facilitated discussions with law officers who protected the girls and told those making the threats that if they did it again they would be out of their jobs.

"This is quite a success story," she said.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Republic of Togo
Plan International
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites