Educational institutions are supposed to create a safe space for young minds. Instead, mounting evidence in the wake of #MeToo confessions from school students and alums indicates institutions have become enablers of rape culture allowing entiled abusive adults to use their positional power to abuse minors. The sheer number of survivors voicing out is staggering to many, especially to parents, but truth be told we were all warned….and we all collectively chose to ignore it! The fact that student survivors took to social media to oust their trauma shines the light on another shameful fact that the system failed, the society failed and the concerned trusted adults in positions of power failed to protect and nurture them...FOR ALL THESE YEARS!!

Regardless of every affirmative acts and amendments issued with regards to children, India is still home to the largest number of sexually abused children in the world. Educational institutions having much influence and close proximity with children, becomes an environment for preparators to target vulnerable children. It also becomes the biggest platform to combat this rampant human rights violation. Naturally, the solution to students #MeToo pandemic lies within the premises of educational institutions which can be achieved by addressing 2 systemic problems, which are;

(a) Educational institutions for long have emboldened a ‘School Culture’ that converges to protect and coddle the abuser because in our society institution/family reputation supersedes the safety and well-being of young children. To end this pandemic of #MeToo, change MUST originate from redefining ‘School Culture’ where student safety is paramount. As directed by the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, every educational institution must sanction Child Protection Policy (CPP). CPP as the motto of re-defined school culture should draw its strength with many overlapping and cohesive interactions among all members of the organization including institute’s board, administrators, teachers, other school board employees, school volunteers, parents, state agencies, law enforcement and STUDENTS. 

(b) We must start treating educational institutions as a workplace for both teachers and students in which the students role is similar to an apprentice.  Perpetrators come in all forms and shapes and so does abuse. Institutions should look beyond Good touch-bad touch and inculcate comprehensive understanding on child sexual abuse. Not all offenders are pedophiles, for example, those that abuse female children may also misbehave with female adults. Not to mention, male student survivors who endure extreme stigma and fear of rejection that stops them from speaking up. Institutions as a workplace formulates new channels to identify and address patterns and behaviors often associated with adult misconduct. Therefore, necessitating implementation of Prevention Of Sexual Harassment at workplace (POSH) Act, 2013. 

As concerned citizens and as a responsible NGO, working on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse since 2015, we AWARE India Trust are calling on the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women and Child development, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement an inclusive policy in all educational institutions. This inclusive policy should mandate a 6-point strategy.

STEP 1:  Formulate an inclusive policy for children, teaching and non-teaching staff bringing together

a) CPP (Child Protection Policy) as per POCSO guidelines, as a safe space for child development &

b)    POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment  as a workplace for teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and anyone who walks in/out of a school campus.

Sexual harassment is a subjective experience, so one size fits all is an outdated approach to define a predator. An inclusive policy will allow multiple mechanisms to identify a perpetrator and to report any incident by anyone who is aggrieved or a witness to conduct unbecoming. This will also enable a secure environment for everyone associated with the institution.

STEP 2:  Set up an independent, effective Internal Committee Board (ICB)

-   Both CPP & POSH mandates an institution/organization to set-up an internal committee at each branch, to hear and address grievances. 

-   ICB committee must consist of a minimum of 2 representatives from parent-teacher association and representatives from other stakeholders (teachers/NGO/Govt. agencies) 

-   Members in ICB are mandated to ensure transparency in complaints proceedings and provide accountability.

STEP 3:  Appoint a CPP sensitized child counselor effective immediately and failure to do so must amount to punishable offence by law.

It is the school counselor’s legal, ethical and moral responsibility to report suspected cases of child abuse to the proper authorities. School counselors will also work to identify the behavioral, academic and social/emotional impact of abuse and neglect on students and ensure the necessary supports for students are in place.

STEP 4: Monitoring & audit by child welfare officers or child protection agencies every quarterly

Visitation by child welfare officers or child protection agencies every quarterly to educational institutions must be mandated. The officers involved must undertake necessary actions to ensure proper functioning of CPP as provisioned by law. 

STEP 5: Existing staff or recruitment of any faculty member into an educational institution must be subjected to rigorous background investigation

A common database with necessary profile indicators of good & bad remarks must be maintained and educational institutions must have unlimited access to such information to aid in the background verification process.

STEP 6:  Mandate child abuse prevention and gender sensitization sessions in all educational institutions. 

A comprehensive awareness session is required to train teachers and parents and to sensitize children, volunteers and non-teaching staff of the institution.

These 6 points are the basic framework around which a comprehensive policy will be drafted after gathering extensive feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders.

The fight to protect children from predators has been a long one and the allegations surfacing out of one Chennai school against one alleged perpetrator is certainly not one isolated incident. Accounts of predatory behaviour against faculty members are mounting and will continue to mount year after year if we don't bring systemic changes to recognize and punish predatory behavior NOW!

Sign this petition to make the safety of our children a priority. We are 74 years too late in promising our collective commitment to protect our children from child abuse. Sign the petition to build a strong holistic roadmap that will secure an abuse-free future of our children.