Even as the Goa Children’s Court sentenced a playschool
teacher from Navyug Niketan, a franchisee of Kidzee School,
Miramar to one year imprisonment and fined her for Rs one
lakh for subjecting her two and half year old student to corporal
punishment back in February 2014, yet another case of child
abuse came to light at yet another privately-run primary school
in North Goa. While the teacher in the former case was accused
of slapping the minor, twisting his ears and pinching his legs, the
FIR lodged by the parents of the nine-year-old victim in the latter
incident alleges that the child’s hands were held behind his back
by his teacher, while the principal slapped him. The teacher then
allegedly banged the child’s head against the wall.
Children spend a major portion of their day in school, their
teachers and classmates becoming almost an extension of their
home and family. And it is wrong that so many children are being
denied a safe environment to grow and thrive. The Goa Children’s
Act, enacted in 2003 and later amended in 2005, calls for
the state to ensure that children are protected against any form of
abuse. These protection policies must be reflected in every aspect
of school administration and management.
That being said, while the safety and well-being of all children
must remain our top priority, it is also imperative that the veracity
of their claims is determined. It is thus advisable for school
authorities and the police to conduct a thorough investigation before
any further action is taken.
