Team Herald
PANJIM: In light of recent incidents involving teachers assaulting students, the NGO Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) has emphasized the urgent need for implementing a Child Protection Policy in educational institutions across Goa.
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The organisation highlighted that the September 2, 2024 incident is not an isolated case, citing two previous incidents that underscore the necessity for such a policy.
In 2015, two teachers from the Government Primary School in Mapusa were booked by police for assaulting a student with a water pipe, resulting in the child suffering a fractured hand. Additionally, in April 2015, an anganwadi teacher and sevika were suspended after burning a child’s face with a hot spoon, with the sevika subsequently facing police charges. The victim, who lived nearby, was taken for immediate medical attention by his parents.
SCAN noted that all three cases—including the recent one reported at the Colvale Police Station involving a nine-year-old student—were only registered after the children received medical aid. Alarmingly, school authorities failed to administer first aid or report the incidents to the police, indicating a lack of accountability among institutional heads regarding incident reporting.
The implementation of a Child Protection Policy would not only create a safer environment for children and safeguard their rights but also demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting children from abuse, violence, and discrimination. Such a policy would establish accountability within educational administrations, provide a framework for addressing violations, and ensure prompt responses to unforeseen situations.
Moreover, SCAN expressed concern that, over time, incidents are often forgotten, allowing perpetrators to be reinstated as teachers, thereby continuing to work with children. Therefore, the establishment of a Child Protection Policy in educational institutions is essential to ensure the safety and security of students from potential harm by both teaching and non-teaching staff.
SCAN coordinator Emidio Pinho has submitted a framework for the proposed Child Protection Policy and is hopeful that the Directorate of Education will take the necessary steps to formulate and implement this vital policy for the state.
