THE IMPACT OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN IN KASESE DISTRICT: A CASE STUDY OF HIMA TOWN COUNCIL

ABSTRACT

The study was concerned to inquire into the impact of gender based violence on academic

performance of children in Kasese district a case study of hima town council. The study was

guided by the general objective and this was to establish the impacts of Gender based violence

on academic performance of children. impact of gender based violence that limit children’s

academic performance out of the general objective, specific objectives were formulated that is, to

establish the factors responsible for gender based violence, forms of gender based violence,

effects of gender based violence on academic performance of children and finally how to address

the problem of gender based violence in relation to children’s academic performance. This study

employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The researcher used purposive sampling

and only questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. Quantitative data were

analyzed using frequency and percentage tables. The study findings was that gender based

violence greatly limits children’s academic performance in the way that out of quarrel in families

children fill psychologically tortured mentally and even they are always abandoned by their

parents leading them dropout of school at an early age, those who perceiver with gender based

violence consequences always perform poorly in their exams. The study found out that the most

causes of gender based violence in families is as a result of use of alcoholic drugs, disrespect

among couples, financial challenges and fornication among others all these were found to be

behind of women and children battering in homes. The study findings on the possible solutions

towards fighting gender based violence were that although laws against domestic violence and

other hindrances exist, the implementation and enforcement of such laws is often weak. The

study concluded that there are still gender based violence that lead to poor academic performance

among children leading to school dropout in the district that needs special attention from

nongovernmental organizations, government and individual efforts to uphold the rights of girls in

the district. Basing on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended for provision of

technical assistance, need to provide constitutional measures to uphold the rights of women and

girls, such as equality, non-discrimination and protection from violence, are critical and can

shape the response of governments to eliminating female genital mutilation and inclusion of

leaders, both religious and secular, in interventions is important to secure a supportive

environment for change.

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