Ensuring Safety of School Children | 26 Sep 2024

Source: HT

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court directed the implementation of the Centre's 2021 Guidelines on School Safety and Security in schools, following the sexual assault of two schoolgirls in Badlapur, Maharashtra. 

• It also asked the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to monitor the implementation of the guideline. 

What are Guidelines on School Safety and Security 2021? 

• About: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has framed the guidelines to ensure school management is held accountable for the safety of children in schools. 
  • It address critical issues including security measures, staff responsibilities, and procedures to prevent incidents of harm or abuse. 
  • It is applicable to all schools, including private schools. 
• Purpose of the Guidelines: 
  • Co-creation of a Safe School Environment: Foster a collaborative approach among all stakeholders i.e., students, parents, teachers, and school management to create a safe and secure school environment. 
  • Awareness of Existing Acts, Policies, and Guidelines: Making all stakeholders aware of the various laws, policies, procedures, and guidelines related to different aspects of child safety. E.g., Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016, Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 etc. 
  • Zero Tolerance Policy: Enforce a "Zero Tolerance Policy" against any form of negligence or misconduct and the perpetrator must face strict consequences. 
• Three-pronged approach: 
  • Accountability for Child Safety: In government and government-aided schools, the head of the school, teachers, and education administration are held accountable for child safety. 
    • In private and unaided schools, the responsibility lies with the school management, principal, and teachers.  
  • Whole School Approach: The guidelines adopt a "whole school approach" by incorporating safety and security aspects into education itself.  
    • This includes focusing on health, physical, socio-emotional, psycho-social, and cognitive aspects of child safety, ensuring a holistic view of student well-being. 
  • Multi-Sectoral Concerns: It integrates inputs and recommendations from various ministries and departments beyond the education sector. E.g., health and hygiene protocols by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 
• Key Features:  
  • Teacher and Stakeholder Capacity Building: It stresses the urgency of sensitising, orienting, and building the capacity of teachers, school heads, parents, and students to better manage safety protocols.  
    • E.g., the NISHTHA program for elementary school teachers includes a special module on the educational response to Covid-19. 
  • Cybersecurity and Online Education: It emphasises the importance of cybersecurity and online safety for children and teachers to adopt strong digital safety measures. 
  • Compliance with Disaster Management and Safety Policies: It aligns with the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety Policy, 2016 regarding physical infrastructure and disaster preparedness. 
    • It also complies with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) guidelines for residential schools. 
  • Aligned with National Education Policy (NEP), 2020: The NEP, 2020 mandates the formation of a State School Standards Authority (SSSA) to ensure all schools maintain certain professional and quality standards. 
    • The policy lays down the safety of students, particularly girl children, in residential hostels as a priority. 
  • Complies with International Conventions: The Convention on the Rights of the Child obligates nations to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence. 
  • Fulfilment of SDGs: SDG 4 ensures inclusive and quality education for all and the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence'. 
    • SDG 16 addresses violence against children and promotes peaceful and inclusive societies by reducing violence and ending exploitation, trafficking, and abuse of children.

What is the Role of NCPCR in Ensuring Child Safety? 

• Monitoring Responsibility: NCPCR and SCPCRs (State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights) are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the legal aspects of the guidelines related to school safety and security. 
• E-Baal Nidan: NCPCR has a dedicated Online Complaint System, ”E-Baal Nidan”, to ensure timely redressal of complaints of various violations and deprivation of child rights.  
• POCSO e-Box: NCPCR has launched the POCSO e-Box for easy and direct reporting of sexual offences against children as well as timely action against the offenders under the POCSO Act, 2012. 
• Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Section 31 and Section 32 of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 assigns the NCPCR and SCPCRs the task of overseeing the implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 including ensuring children’s right to free and compulsory education. 
• Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005: Section 13(1) of CPCR Act, 2005 entrusts the NCPCR and SCPCR to inquire into complaints of child rights violations, monitor the implementation of child protection laws etc. 
  • NCPCR and SCPCR can take suo-moto notice of matter relating to deprivation and violation of child rights. 
• Juvenile Justice Act, 2015: Section 109 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 tasks the commissions with monitoring the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 for children safety.

Way Forward 

• Strict Compliance with NCPCR Guidelines: Schools must strictly adhere to the NCPCR’s Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools, identifying gaps in their safety protocols, and addressing them. 
• Safety Planning: Each school should include a School Safety and Security Plan as a major component of their School Development Plan (SDP).  
• In-Service Teacher Training: Teachers should be sensitised to various safety issues, including the Prevention of Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and their responsibilities for reporting offences. 
  • Schools must report any offenses or suspicions related to child sexual abuse as per Section 19 of the POCSO Act, 2012. 
• Anti-Bullying Committee: Schools should establish Anti-Bullying Committees implement a bullying (ragging) prevention program and regularly discuss its effectiveness. 
• School Safety Week: Schools should celebrate School Safety Week at the beginning of every academic session to review all safety arrangements.