To Ensure a Safe Environment at School

According to experts, kids are still picking up on societal and social behavior during their formative years and may not be particularly aware of what behavior is appropriate and what isn’t. They add that in order to keep them secure, they need to learn a number of lessons. In their formative years, children must learn about “safe” and “unsafe” touch, especially at a time when younger children are increasingly being sexually attacked and mistreated.

“It worries me to read frequent headlines that raise concerns about a child’s safety on various fronts as a parent and an educator. They serve as a reminder of how vulnerable young children, especially girls are when they go to other cities to compete in tournaments or participate in field excursions, when they ride in school buses, or even when they are targeted at their own schools in overt and covert ways,” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi.

In rural schools, where sometimes poor infrastructure not even includes restrooms, the technical safety precautions we discuss while discussing the safety of urban schools are inaccessible. Girls who frequently travel a considerable distance to attend school are susceptible both within and outside of their schools because of each of these issues. “In such a situation, taking self-defense training can provide pupils with a sense of empowerment and confidence. It can be beneficial to have regular discussions on what to do if you experience abuse or notice someone else in danger, who to call, and how to stay watchful. The importance of consent must also be emphasized to students, and a secure environment where they can confide in qualified counselors must be offered. Children should be taught to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate touch even in basic classes,” adds Anoop.

In most schools, there isn’t a strict code of conduct or training for teachers about what they may and cannot say or do while speaking with pupils. Our educational system overlooks the fact that education cannot be a one-way street and that teachers must also receive training on proper and inappropriate behavior. Body shaming, verbal or physical sexualization of female students, comments on a student’s attire, abuse of authority, and breaking emotional or physical boundaries must all be harshly penalized. Schools must establish an internal complaints committee and a clear procedure for handling complaints. While we are striving to make our education system ‘smarter’, an equal emphasis should also be paid on making it ‘safer’.