The alleged rape of a student by her school principal in Hyderabad is a shocking revelation, but it isn’t a reflection of the education system at large, feel schools in Delhi.
Generating awareness is a school’s best bet against the menace of sexual abuse on campus.
Institutions in the Capital are, evidently, pulling out all stops to ensure this happens via counselling and workshops. The ubiquitous (also mandatory) presence of counsellors in schools is a strong testimony to that.
“ Schools today are better prepared to prevent such a situation on campus as our communication channels have never been more open. Counsellors constantly try to instil awareness ( about good and bad touch) in the children. They also establish a comfortable rapport with the students through counselling sessions,” Abha Sahgal, principal of Sanskriti School at Chanakyapuri, said.
“ But parents need to advise their children to develop an attitude to stand up for their dignity and this can be reinforced by the school,” Sehgal added.
Awareness initiatives, however, are not just directed at students but target teachers, too. “ In Tagore International School, teachers, too, are trained to identify a child showing behavioural changes which could then be brought to the notice of the counsellor,” Arti Raghuvanshi, a clinical psychologist and a consultant with Tagore International School at Vasant Vihar, said.
The assurance of confidentiality is the glue that holds the preparedness mechanism together, counsellors say. “ We involve only the principal if and only if the case is big. Not even the class teacher is told and hence this assurance goes a long way in instilling confidence in the child,” Raghuvanshi said.
“ Revelation of identity is a strong deterrent for children who could have been abused sexually. A complaint box on the campus, which allows one to lodge complaints anonymously, is helpful,” Shubha Chandrashekhar, counsellor with DPS Rohini said.
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