Breaking the silence: examining the prevalence, causes and consequences of sexual abuse of learners by educators in South African schools

IntroductionThe sexual abuse of learners by educators remains a significant issue in the South African educational system, compromising the learners' well-being and the veracity of institutions. Despite having solid or robust policy structures in place, incidents keep emerging, often hushed by stigma, power dynamics, and insufficient institutional retorts. The ongoing challenges of sexual exploitation in educational environments stipulate cavernous structural and cultural encounters that are not