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 Vol. 9 No. 1 June 2010
Healthy teacher pupil relationship
T
eachers, you are rolemodels and parentsto your pupils. Childrenspend 80% of their timewith you.
 You are a source of wisdomand pupils believe in you.Guide and show them theright path to success. Your pupils can be successfultoday and in future if  you have healthyrelationship withthem. In a healthyrelationship there isgood communication,respect and trustbetween teachers andpupils.
 Aggrey Kibenge,Spokesperson PRO,MoES says:
 
Therelationship betweena child and a teacher shouldbe like that of a parent and child. Provide counsellingand guidance to the child for intellectual and moral support.When you fail to act as a parent, then you are starting
Defilement is a crime
an unhealthy relationshipand can defile a pupil. Thisleads to loss of trust from the community, parents, pupilsand loss of your job.
Nurture a good relationshipto promote a healthyenvironment conducivefor effective teaching andlearning. It also builds a goodreputation for the school and you, the teachers.
 
Many teacherslike
BongominD, Mary Hill PS, Amuru
are having good relationshipswith their pupils. 
He says:
 I respectmy pupils. When ateacher respects the child then he cannotdefile them.
 Apio Doris,VH PS Lirasays:Sex with yourpupil is notaccepted.Headteachersshouldhave zerotoleranceon that.We arerole modelsto children. These childrenspend most of their timewith us. Let us be good par-ents to them.
 The  teacher’s code o f Conduc t sa ys:
 The  teacher shall no t ha ve a se x ual rela tionship  wi th  the child /leaner
 A   teacher shall o bser ve  the la w o f Uganda par ticularl y in ma t ters o f se x , marriage and paren thood and all  times se t a good e x ample  to  the children
Earl y pregnancies are happening in our schools and girls are dropping ou t o f school.  Wha t are  you doing  to s top  this and increase re ten tion.  Tell us  your s tories. 
 Wri te  to PO Bo x  22366, K ampala
QUIZ
Teacher Talk interviewedthe Minister of Educationand Sports,
NamirembeBitamazire,
and she warnsagainst defilement:"No teacher should involvehimself or herself in a sexualrelationship with a pupil. Your professional codeof ethics is clear. Behaveprofessionally and helpstudents to learn and pass. When we establish that youare in a sexual relationshipwith your pupil, you willbe interdicted and thecase will be forwarded tothe Education ServiceCommission for furtheraction.If the Education ServiceCommission establishes thatit is true you have a sexualrelationship with a learner,it will terminate yourservice. Yourrelationshiopwith the pupilshould be likethat of a childand parent.Do not harmthem.
 Promotes effective teaching and learning
 
 c ten e cannotdefile them.
To report defilement, call the commissioners' office on 0414-349435
 T
 e a c h e r s,  h e l p  p u p i l s  a c h i e v e  t h e i r g o a l s.  P r o t e c t  t h e m  f r o m  s e x  u a l  a b u s e.  D e f i l e m e n t  h a r m s  ed u c a t i o n.  P u p i l s  w h o  a r e d e f i l ed  a r e  l i k e l y  t o d r o p  o u t  o f  s c h o o l  b e c a u s e  o f  e a r l y  p r eg n a n c y  a nd  o t h e r  r e l a t ed  p r o b l e m s.
 A teacher in Obiya PS, Gulu listens to his pupils
Teacher -1.indd 16/24/2010 11:02:04 AM
 
Teacher Talk, June 2010
2
Create a safe school for pupils
 A
 World Bank survey in 2008indicated that one in every twenty-five girls aged between12 and 17 had been sexually assaulted by their teachers.Thismeans 43,000 girls in primary schools had been defiled.
Some teachers lure girls into sex bypromising them gifts and good marksor threatening them. Girls usuallyfear the likely consequences if theyrefuse to yield to sexual advances byteachers.One pupil says: "I had a boyfriendwho was a teacher at my school. When he asked me to have sex withhim, I refused. He said he would waitfor me in a dark place and rape me."
 Headteachers, work with yourteachers and pupils to create a defilement free school.
Sex be-tween a teacher and pupil istotally unacceptable. Have zerotolerance for sexual abuse inyour school.
 Write a school policy onsexual abuse. Share thepolicy with yourstaff and pupils.
 Bwonyo Bosco, District Inspector of Schools, Lira says:
"Put in place
I
n the last issue of 
Teacher Talk,
weasked teachers to advice a teacherwho was in love with a pupil. This iswhat he said:
 
"
 I admire a P7 pupil in my school. Once during roll call, when pupils said shewas absent, I collapsed. I saw darkness and fell down I gained consciousness inthe hospital. When the pupil came to see me. I heard her voice and felt fine. The doctor says I have hysteria. What can I  do? "
 We thank all the 60 teachers who wrote in to advisethe teacher in love. You win Teacher Talk T-shirts for your brilliant advice.
Engwau Daniel, Moroto Municipal PS, says:
 
Turn your mind away from the little girl. If you continue with that, it will spoil your record and your job. Seek guidance and counselling and make sure you read the teachers code of conduct. Look at that girlas your own daughter and not as a lover. Rememberdefilement is a crime.
From Busia, Nagatabita PS, Auma Janet, says:
 
 Please be a professional teacher. How would you feelif another teacher did it to your daughter? Ask for atransfer to save yourself.
Odeya Emanual headteacher, Isagara PS,Masindi, says:
Thank you for opening up. Thatis one way to solve your problem. It is normal to get feelings but you can control them. Share your worrieswith a counsellor. Stick to religious teachings and theteacher’s code of conduct.
Namara Alex, Nyarurenbo PS,Kanungu says:
mechanisms to discourage defilement.Give information about itsconsequences to pupils and teachers.Speak to those who are suspected. If defilement occurs there should be notime to negotiate. The culprit shouldface the law."
Set a system where otherteachers review exampapers.
This will establish fairnessand reduce cases of gaining or being denied marks in case a teacher hasissues with a given pupil.
 Allow children to expressthemselves and beassertive.
Help children to speakout clearly and strongly and say no tosexual abuse.
"I have encouraged the children toreport such cases. I have introduced a suggestion box where children writeabout such cases. We encourage themto omit their names. This has helpedus in identifying the wrong people. " 
Cezi Ebong, Amuca PS, Lira
 Look for possible ways that can make you busy like readingbooks ,playing football and it should be done after school.You should also get married to some one mature enough toavoid imprisonment.
Elelu Nicodemus, Ogobai PS, Kaberamaido says: 
 It isnatural and healthy to admire but it seems you are going too far. Request for a
transfer to be safe.
Dear teachers,stick toyour Codeof Conduct. A sexualrelationshipwith your pupilcan lead to:
•Imprisonment•Loss of job•Bad reputation for you and the school•Loss of respect bythe children andthe community
Teach children about badtouches and gifts
Let pupils know that no one isallowed to touch their private partor give them gifts they cannot showtheir parents.
Teach about inappropriatesecrets. 
Child abuse starts with achild being persuaded, threatened orforced not tell anyone. Tell childrennot to keep secrets.
Create a support system toenable pupils to seek helpand report sexual abuse.
This helps pupils identify people theycan go to for help and keep on telling someone until they get help.Bwonyo encourages you to get thegirl child closer to the senior womanteacher. Where there is no femaleteacher, ask female parents to help. A pupil from Dokolo got help due tosupportive system at school.She says: "
There was a teacher whotold me to take books to his home.When I entered the house, he told meto open my hands and he sees how clean they are. He wrote in my handthat I love you. I ran very fast to the senior woman teacher and showedher. The teacher was warned
."
 Advice to a teacher in love with a pupil
Pupils of Amuda PS, Dokolo, say they arestaying safe from defilement
That is the teacher who defiled peter'sdaughter 
Teacher -2.indd 26/24/2010 11:07:36 AM
 
Teacher Talk, June 2010
3
" You can controlyour sexual  feelings.  This starts  from the mind.Remind  yoursel f e ver y morning that  you are going to meet  your children and that their li ves are in  your hands."  Write do wn principles thatguide  you. •Keep  your mind bus y b y reading books, pla ying games•A void being alone  with that pupil. Beatrice Bainomugisha, a counsellor and teacher
Manage your sexual feelings
N
aturally we all have feel-ings. Feeling is a reac-tion of the mind towardsdifferent situations. These feel-ings eventually become obviousthrough what we see, hear, think and do. What is key to controlour feelings.
Sexual feelings and admiration for your pupils does not mean youshould have sex with them.
Onyango Jackson ateacher in AmucaSDA, says
:
 
 I admire pupils but I do not takeadvantage of them.Sometimes attractionsmay lead to feeling of lovebut you need to handle them carefully.
Ongom Humphrey,teacher in AmucaSDA Lira says:
There was a moment I had to exchange classwith my colleague toavoid the temptation. I fear to be imprisonedand disowned. It is notright for me to relate sexually with my pupils. I am not ready to be disownedby the church.
Law on Domestic Violencepassed
 
In March 2010, President Musevenisigned the Domestic Violence Actof 2009 into law. The new law isto punish promoters of domesticviolence. It punishes a partner whoinjures or endangers the healthof the other. It forbids repeatedsending of abusive messages andletters to someone.Perpetrators of domestic violenceare liable to a fine of up to Shs910,000 or imprisonment for two years or both.
Government eyes 3,600 totrain P.E
Government will recruit 3,600 new physical education teachers in 2011.This is aimed at raising interest in sportsat school. The State Minister for primary education who made theannoucement in April also warned parents who refuse their children to participate in games and sports.Children who do not exercise havechallenges because all the fats eatenstay in the body without being burnthence sickness.
Teachers get pay rise in2011 budget
While reading the budget, financeminister Syda Bbumba announced aShs18 Billion for the enhancementof scientists’ salaries, primary schoolteachers and lower cadre health workersand security forces.
S
chools play an importantrole in providing HIV/  AIDS education for young people. Schools reach a largenumber of pupils. Childrenare always eager to learnnew information. Thereforeschools are a well-establishedpoint of contact throughwhich pupils can receive HIV/  AIDS education.
 
Effective HIV/AIDS educationencourages pupils to participate andpractice the information they arelearning.
This can be donethrough group-work and role-play.
These help the pupil to discover thepractical aspects of the informationthey are given.
For examplesaying “No” to sex.
 Active learning makes AIDSeducation fun. You can also usequizzes, games, or drama. When you organize sportsday activities include the HIV messages,This will be the bestopportunity even for the parents toknow and learn.
 Ngomwegi Mary Head teacherObiya PS, Gulu, says:
 
 In my school HIV messages are passed on throughmusic and drama. We teach children
Integrate HIV messages in school activities
NEWS IN BRIEF
to act short plays. In English lessonsthe children recite poems about HIV.
Okot Alfred Obiya PS ,Gulu ,says:
 
With thematic curriculum , it is very easy to integrate HIV messages. I use drawings and rhymes for those children and they are quick at grasping. It has worked so much forme.
 What if a pupil showsinterest in you?
Sometimes, pupils tempttheir teachers with sexualadvances.
 Ronald Omara, a teach- er, says
 
accepting a pupils ad-vances is an absolute risk. Manyteachers have gone to jail over defile-ment while others are paying rent and even university fees because of an out of court settlement due to defilement."When you say NO to the pupil, sayit carefully in a way that will notdamage the child's reputation and esteem. If you humiliate the pupil, she or he may never regain the courage to study," says Omara.
 Bainomugisha Beatrice, adds
,
 
 A teacher is mature enough. If a child shows interest in you, clearly tell them it is not right. Helpthe child understand that getting feel-ings for someone is normal. Let them know the effects and tell them how toavoid them. A teacher should knowwhat happens to a child when they are growing up.
 Aggrey Kibenge from MoES says,
"
When a pupil shows interest in you, help the child to calm down by talking tothem. Do not take advantage of them. You can also seek guidanceand counselling on how best tohelp such a pupil.
 A teacher in love with a pupil will not teach effectively or act objectively
Teachers of Agwata PS, Dokolo, say a good teachershould look at a pupil as his/her childTeachers of AmucaPS, Lira in a focusgroup discussion
Teacher -3.indd 26/24/2010 11:12:58 AM
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