Rising cases of child abuse in schools: How to ensure student safety?

Recently, the news of sexual assault of a four-year-old girl by a peon working at her playschool in Mumbai surfaced leaving everyone shocked. As per the media reports, what was even more disturbing was that the school authorities had tried to cover up this incident.

In yet another incident, over eight girls studying in grade two of a Thane school were sexually assaulted in the bus by a private bus attendant when the students were returning to school from a school-organised picnic.

These and many such occurrences send chills down everyone's spine. Parents especially, are concerned about the safety of their children. In the wake of such horrific events, Mid-day.com approached school authorities who shed light on student safety on school premises.

"Such news is deeply troubling and a cause of serious concern. Schools are safe environments where children can learn, grow and be without fear. We implement a multifaceted strategy to ensure safety on-premises and during external activities. Privacy and security are further enhanced by constructing external toilet facilities for bus staff, minimising their need to enter the school premises. We maintain a stringent protocol for visitor entry, ensuring all visitors are thoroughly screened," says Parveen Shaikh, principal, The Somaiya School, Mumbai.

"Children being molested is an absolutely unacceptable occurrence - be it on or off the school premises. Society, in general, has witnessed an alarming rise in the number of sexual harassment cases involving school students and this is an area of deep concern for both parents and school authorities," opines Anju Luthra, deputy director, The Lexicon Schools, Pune.

Speaking about some of the safety measures employed in her school, Luthra says, "A POCSO Committee, a Safety and Security Committee and a Women's Grievance and Sexual Harassment Committee are created within the school set-up to ensure that the children know who to approach in case of concerns. The committee also looks into concerns which are raised and investigate to come up with solutions. Further, the buddy system is another alternative which ensures that no child is left behind in washrooms or outside the classroom for any reason. The buddies keep an eye on each other and report to the teachers or caregivers anything that they feel uncomfortable about or out of the ordinary. A buddy system also helps prevent situations where a single child is more prone to risks."

Neelima Kamrah, principal, KIIT World School, Gurugram, states, "A school must take proactive measures to prevent such occurrences, including rigorous background checks for staff, comprehensive training on child protection protocols, and fostering a culture of openness and accountability where students feel safe to report any concerns. Additionally, swift and decisive action must be taken to address allegations, support victims, involve the authorities, implement stringent measures and hold perpetrators accountable under the law. Ultimately, ensuring the safety and well-being of all students should be the top priority for schools and society as a whole."

Further, Anamika Dasgupta, director, The Wonder, Pune adds, "Schools should be sanctuaries of learning, not scenes of horror. Every child deserves safety and respect in their educational environment. It's not just about policies; it's about a moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable amongst us." Speaking about safety measures in her school, Dasgupta shares, "Beyond the standard protocols, we foster a culture of vigilance and empathy. More than simply supervise, our staff engages with students, building relationships based on trust and mutual respect. I believe that safety shouldn't be just a checklist - it should be a mindset woven into the fabric of a school community."

How must schools ensure student safety?

We asked these school authorities how all schools must ensure student safety. They share the following suggestions:

1. The first step towards ensuring the safety and security of the students is acceptance of the fact that this threat is real and is looming large over us.

2. A strong support team needs to be established in the school where students can report any incident that has made them uncomfortable and can seek help, if needed. The team can consist of counsellors and a few experienced teachers, of both genders, who are trained on how to respond in such cases along with the procedure to follow to ensure a supportive environment for the student.

3. Conducting sessions that promote a safe environment and inculcate a sense of responsible behaviour are also crucial.

4. Strict security measures, such as visitor control and surveillance systems, should be implemented.

Educational programs that promote mental and emotional health, anti-bullying campaigns, and personal safety must be organised by the school from time to time.

5. Providing staff with ongoing training on child protection and emergency response is essential. Consistent safety audits and feedback systems guarantee ongoing assessment and advancement.

6. Children may not always recognise when they have been exploited since they are still developing. They can avoid suffering the agony of sexual assault by learning what is right and wrong. Schools must impart knowledge about good and bad touch as teaching this is important for children to understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate contact.

7. Sessions on gender sensitisation, sex education, anti-bullying, menstrual hygiene and safety, personal safety, assertiveness training and cyber safety are among a few options to ensure that students are aware of the issues that they could encounter.

What must be the school's course of action in case of molestation incident?

"When a student reports molestation or sexual harassment within the school setting, it is imperative under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012, that the school takes immediate action to ensure the child's safety and well-being. This includes providing emotional support, mandatorily reporting the incident to law enforcement or child welfare committees, preserving any potential evidence, and maintaining the confidentiality of the child's identity," says Parveen Shaikh of The Somaiya School

"Under the purview of the POCSO Act, the Principal must report the matter to the Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the school falls," says Anju Luthra of The Lexicon Schools. "The rule clearly states that there can be no assumption revolving around whether the matter reported happened or not. Mandatory Reporting is essential and any incident reported must be brought to the notice of the concerned authorities, promptly."

Neelima Kamrah of KIIT World School suggests offering child support:

1. Ensure safety: First and foremost, ensure the immediate safety of the student. If there is an immediate threat, take necessary measures to protect the student.
2. Listen and support: Listen to the student in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. Let them know they are being taken seriously and that you are there to help.
3. Document the incident: Document the details of the incident as reported by the student. This documentation should be done in a confidential manner.
4. Report to authorities: Depending on the severity of the incident and local laws, it may be necessary to report the incident to the appropriate authorities, such as child protective services or the police.
5. Notify parents or guardians: Inform the student's parents or guardians about the incident, while respecting the student's privacy.
6. Provide support services: Offer the student access to counselling or other support services to help them cope with the experience.
7. Take preventive measures: Take steps to prevent further incidents, such as increased supervision or implementing anti-bullying policies.
8. Follow up: Follow up with the student and their family to ensure they are receiving the support they need and to monitor their well-being.

Schools must fully cooperate with investigating authorities, offer legal and psychological support to the victim, and review their child protection policies to prevent future incidents.

What process of staff recruitment must be adopted by schools?

"Recruitment in schools is a unique and important procedure. Schools should look not just at resumes but also at character," says Anamika Dasgupta of The Wonder School.

Anju Luthra of The Lexicon Schools suggests ensuring the following:

1. The applicant should be screened thoroughly after the first round of interviews.
2. The references provided by previous workplaces should be checked not only in terms of content knowledge but also about the person's work ethic along with the police verification.
3. If possible, the applicant's social media posts can also be checked to learn more about the person.
4. The applicant should also be informed about the school's policies regarding the safety and security of the students as well as the legal aspects before hiring.
5. School policies on sexual harassment and consequences for violating these policies as well as expected behaviour of the staff must be well drafted and adhered to.
6. Staff should be made to provide an undertaking stating that they are aware of the school's policies and accept and will adhere to them same.
7. Induction must be provided to every member of staff, from time to time.

Why must schools appoint and take the help of qualified counsellors?

In case of child molestation and sexual assaults, school counsellors play a pivotal role. They provide emotional support, guidance, and referrals to appropriate resources such as therapy or legal assistance. Creating a confidential space for students to express themselves is fundamental in helping them heal and move forward.

Kapila Rattan Bhowmik, certified parenting coach and counsellor at Petals Preschool and Daycare states, "Trained school counsellors play a crucial role in providing essential support to students facing various challenges, including instances of abuse. They offer a confidential space for students to express themselves and receive the help they need to heal and move forward."

She adds, "Parents here need the most amount of guidance. A school counsellor would assist parents in dealing with the entire process, coaching them through the journey of helping both themselves and their child."

What can parents do to ensure their child is safe in school?

"Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their children's safety by maintaining open communication, teaching them about personal boundaries, and educating them about safe and unsafe behaviours," says Bhowmik who also works as a counsellor in Sri Ram Global School, Learning Matters, Peas and Pods.

She suggests parents do the following to make their child feel safe:

1. Listen to the child without any judgment. Make home a safe space where children feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
2. Sharing your own experiences can also encourage your child to open up.
3. Expanding beyond the traditional 'good touch-bad touch' approach, parents should teach their children about safe and unsafe behaviours or touch, empowering them to recognise and communicate their feelings effectively.
4. Assure your child that no matter what happens, they will never get in trouble for sharing anything about body safety or body secrets.
5. Additionally, parents should empower their children to be aware and assertive about their own bodies and feelings, teaching ownership and responsibility from a young age.
6. Parents should avoid dismissing their child's concerns, blaming the child for the abuse, or failing to take appropriate action when abuse is suspected or reported.
7. It is equally crucial for parents to educate themselves about child safety and be aware of the signs of abuse.

In which other environments are children at risk?

Children's safety is of utmost importance not only in schools but also in daycare facilities, homes, and community settings. Safety of children must be ensures in all environments where children spend time. "Particularly, parents of young children need to understand the heightened importance of safety measures in preschools, primary sections, and daycares, given that many incidents of sexual abuse and harassment involve children aged five to eight or even younger. Vigilance and proactive measures are critical to ensuring the safety of these vulnerable age groups," says Bhowmik.

When choosing daycare facilities, parents should consider factors such as staff qualifications and training, safety protocols, cleanliness, supervision ratios, and communication with parents.

Visiting the facility, asking questions, and seeking references can also help parents make informed decisions.

Additionally, parents should empower their children to be aware of their body boundaries and communicate effectively, even in daycare settings.

It's crucial for parents of young children to recognise the potential risks and act accordingly to ensure a safe environment for their kids