Reports of sexual harassment in a local school have led to the return of the MeToo movement in Pakistan. This state of affairs has caused a public outcry, prompting both parents and educationists to question the safety of educational institutes for children.

Recently, students from Lahore Grammar School’s 1A1 branch (all-girl) took to social media to share personal experiences of alleged sexual harassment at the hands of their male teacher. Posts made by earlier batches quickly followed the allegations made by current students, confirming the fact that the harassment was in occurrence for several years. The students spoke out about their experiences with the same teacher and other students from different schools, depicting the unfortunate frequency of harassment in educational institutes.

In a press conference, held earlier this month, Minister for Education Dr Murad Raas claimed that allegations of harassment had been received from all-boys schools as well. This included one of the teachers sharing inappropriate text messages and private pictures with students. The said teacher, it has been alleged, had been at it for four years. The students also reported that they had been threatened to keep quiet about this or face severe consequences.

Upon complaining to the administration, the students were subjected to harsh words by the school staff. None of the complaints was taken seriously and students were sent back after being humiliated.

Nothing was done to investigate the matter and ensure an appropriate response. A voice recording has since been released, in which a student is being shamed by the school admin for complaining about a teacher. It is particularly shocking that the school later issued a statement, feigning ignorance of the matter.

Silenced by the administration, the girls took to social media. Their courage created an uproar amongst educationists and parents, disgusted with the miscarriage of justice by the school. Only after this uproar did the school decide to fire the accused and took responsibility for the misconduct of its staff.

Dr Raas has said he accepts full responsibility and given reassurances that the perpetrators would be apprehended and duly punished. He has also commented on the trauma the girls had had to suffer, and commended them for their valour. Moreover, the minister has pledged the safety of children moving forward, eradication of harassment in schools and attention towards complaints made by students. One hopes that such measures prove a step in the right direction, and that justice is done.

The episode has raised a very important question: could anything have been done about incidents of sexual harassment in schools if the students hadn’t spoken up on social media? That the incidents took place is proof of the fact that there is no viable system in place to protect children from abusers. Moreover, there is a lack of guidelines and instructions on how to deal with the sensitive topic; a lack of an unprejudiced system, where preventative measures are in place and crimes such as harassment attract fixed punishments.

The likelihood of such incidents only increases when the abusers are aware of the unlikelihood of action against them. The situation can only be described as a miscarriage of justice. Steps are only being taken in reaction and not as early preventive measures. It should be recalled that in such matters justice delayed is indeed justice denied.

It must also be noted that it is the students’ courage which allowed them to come out with their stories, after being humiliated by the school for doing it. It takes a lot of strength to speak out against those otherwise praised by the society. Instead of victim-blaming and disbelieving their stories, it is our responsibility to offer our support to the victims, to tell them that they have been wronged by their protectors; and that it’s a right, not a privilege, to stand up for themselves.

After all, how long will we bow down to those who carry the crown? How long till we realise that we are — and always will be — products of mass misconduct? The girls have spoken, but what about us?