As efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) gain momentum across Migori County and other parts of Kenya, schools are emerging as powerful platforms for change.

Traditionally seen as centres of learning, schools are now becoming safe spaces where harmful cultural practices like FGM are openly challenged through targeted interventions. 

Female Genital Mutilation, defined by the World Health Organisation as procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons, remains deeply rooted in some communities.

Despite national legislation banning FGM in Kenya, the practice persists, with a 21 per cent prevalence according to KDHS 2022, especially in rural and pastoralist areas.

Stakeholders increasingly recognise that schools can play a transformative role in shifting attitudes and ending the cycle of silence that perpetuates FGM. 

One of the most effective school-based interventions has been integrating FGM-related content into the curriculum.

Life Skills Education, taught across primary and secondary schools, includes topics on sexual and reproductive health, children’s rights, gender equality, and the harmful effects of FGM.

These lessons empower learners with knowledge about their bodies, rights, and the dangers of undergoing the cut.

By equipping both girls and boys with factual information, schools help challenge myths and reduce acceptance of the practice among the younger generation. 

Many schools have established anti-FGM clubs or child rights clubs, providing students with opportunities to discuss gender-based violence issues, build self-confidence, and learn how to report cases of abuse.

Teachers trained in child protection serve as club patrons and offer mentorship, encouraging open dialogue about topics that are often taboo in their communities.

Such clubs create awareness and nurture a culture of peer support and advocacy. Schools have also incorporated methodologies like film screenings and positive masculinity sessions to spur discussion among learners. 

Another vital intervention has been training teachers and school administrators on child safeguarding and FGM prevention. Teachers are often the first adults to notice signs of distress or absenteeism linked to FGM-related threats.

With proper training, they can identify at-risk girls, report suspected cases to child protection authorities, and provide psychosocial support.

Some schools have partnered with community health promoters and local NGOs to create referral pathways for at-risk learners. 

Boarding schools, particularly in FGM-prone regions, play a crucial protective role.

During school holidays, when FGM is most commonly practised under the guise of cultural initiation ceremonies, many girls risk being taken to their rural homes for cutting.

Some schools, in collaboration with local administrations and civil society, have operated as rescue centres or safe shelters for girls who fear being subjected to FGM during breaks. 

In the fight against FGM, schools are not just places of learning – they are pillars of protection and change. By embedding anti-FGM messages in school culture, Kenya is raising a generation that will finally put an end to this harmful tradition. 

The writer is a Migori County-based NAYA Youth Advocate