Saturday 02 Nov 2024

Veroda school incident: Need to introspect

| OCTOBER 05, 2024, 12:46 AM IST

The injury caused to a student at a school in Veroda Cuncolim last month after she was hit by her colleague in class has thrown open questions on the security of children in schools and the responsibilities of teachers and heads. The Class III student was seriously injured after being allegedly beaten up by her classmate and had to be admitted to the ICU at the Goa Medical College, Bambolim. The parents of the 7-year-old victim girl stated that the teacher did not attend to her and ignored the injury which later aggravated.

Tension ran high as parents of the girl and Balli locals marched to the police station on Wednesday and demanded suspension of the headmistress and the class teacher over negligence. They also demanded the suspension of Lady PSI attached to the Cuncolim Police Station for not investigating the case thoroughly. The protestors later descended on the national highway and disrupted traffic near the police station. The Lady PSI was immediately transferred and the Education Department asked the school to expedite the inquiry and take immediate action against those responsible.

Tussles between schoolmates, and more especially classmates, are common and this case is no exception. However, the manner in which this particular incident was handled raises several questions. It is common knowledge that students engage in boisterous or unruly behaviour during the short breaks between classes. These breaks are when the class is usually unattended, leaving scope for violent interactions or settling of scores between students. If a student has complained of being hit by another, the teacher must promptly address the issue. Quick response is paramount. Ensuring the well-being of affected students through primary interventions has to be the immediate focus. Moreover, parents of students engaged in physical attacks need to be summoned immediately and spoken to.

The teachers or the headmistress cannot disown responsibility over students during the time they are on campus. Schools need to consistently monitor children for aggressive or bad behaviour. In situations where schools are helpless in managing certain phases on campus, CCTV footage should come in handy. The headmistress and management should have immediately browsed through the footage to understand the trail of the incident and accordingly informed the parents. Unfortunately, even after eight days of the incident, there is no clarity on the footage. This incident should serve as a catalyst for schools to reassess the safety and security of students. Most schools are equipped with CCTV cameras, but very few use them to monitor students consistently.

Secondly, regular training for teachers and staff on monitoring student behaviour and suggesting remedial action could go a long way in course correction, and student hostilities could be contained. Additionally, engaging students in conflict resolution strategies and emotional intelligence development can empower students to interact in more constructive ways. There has to be an environment where students feel comfortable reporting potential dangers or conflicts before they escalate into physical altercations.

In an evolving academic set-up, the role of the teacher expands beyond merely teaching. Whether they like it or not, the “friend-philosopher-and-guide” also includes encouraging teamwork, fostering camaraderie between students, troubleshooting tensions and creating a conducive learning experience.

A suspension of the headmistress and a teacher will not change the system, and any seriousness that unfolds subsequently would be a momentary reaction. The Veroda school incident is a stark reminder that schools must look beyond the basics of education and books and examine the grey areas seriously. There is a need to ensure a secure and healthy schooling environment where students consider themselves allies and not adversaries. Our students need a safe and wholesome schooling environment because schools form the cornerstone of their lives.

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