Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 17: In a move to check gender violence and child abuse in schools, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked all its affiliated schools to install CCTV cameras at strategic places with warning boards.
A toll-free number and child helpline will be provided and displayed on notice boards along with names of the teachers designated to handle cases of misbehaviour.
The schools have been asked to popularise the centralised child helpline number 1098.
The board has asked the schools to sensitise teachers, management and all employees of the institutions about the provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2002.
A close monitoring of academic performance and psychological behaviour in cases of sudden decline in performance, lack of interest, depression and aloofness of any student should have to be noticed soon in order to give proper counselling to the children.
The schools should ensure an improved response system and alert administrative machinery which will take immediate action on reported cases of misbehaviour.
The Board has viewed regular occurrence of such incidents in residential schools as it has asked those institutions to conduct training programmes for house masters and headmistresses and conduct counselling of students.
The schools will also have to form a complaints committee which will consist of a principal, one male teacher, one female teacher, one female student, one male student and one non-teaching staff member.
Complaint or suggestion boxes should be provided in each school to help students file written complaints.
Any complaint of sexual abuse, whether received through the drop box or otherwise, needs to be acted upon immediately.
The programmes for empowerment and sensitisation of girls on health and sanitation issues should be arranged. The girl students should also be trained under self defence programmes, the Board instructed.
