Education dept. not lenient in handling sexual harassment cases: Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi

School Education Minister emphasizes zero tolerance for sexual abuse in schools, implementing strict measures for prevention and punishment.

The School Education Department is not lenient in handling cases of sexual abuse in schools, said School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

Replying to a question on action taken against perpetrators in schools by the department, the Minister stated: “We believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and will come out with orders in 56 cases by March 10. We hope that the POCSO Special Court will issue orders faster so that swift action can be taken by cancelling their qualifications. Even if the teachers are suspended, the courts have to find them guilty to take further action.”

Further adding that the highest punishment would be awarded, he said that parents too had a duty to sensitise their children. “We also plan to conduct a mass awareness programme in schools when they reopen for the new academic year in June,” the Minister said.

In this regard a high-level consultative meeting was held recently by the Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam regarding steps to be taken to prevent sexual violence against children in educational institutions.

According to a release, the school and higher education certificates of teachers and other staff convicted in POCSO cases would be cancelled. “Police verification certificates will be made mandatory before new recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff (temporary and permanent) in educational institutions. The staff will be required to sign a child safeguarding declaration document,” it added. The release also added that education on child protection against sexual abuse would be included in all teaching degree curriculum and refresher training would be provided to all the teachers at regular intervals.

“A nodal officer will be appointed as the concerned departmental officer to compile and monitor all the details related to POCSO cases in all the educational institutions,” it added.

Apart from these, all school students would be given personal safety education on how to protect themselves from sexual assault. A safety manual would be prepared by experts. These would be taught to trainers who would then teach it to school teachers. “This training should be mandatory every three months,” it added.