The conviction of two school teachers for sexual assault on a child could deal a serious blow to the teacher-student relationship across schools, many teachers and educators said on Thursday, expressing concern about the incident.
The heinous crime reflects poorly on the teaching community, more than one principal said. Conversations with school principals and teachers across campuses suggested that these convictions are likely to have consequences beyond one school. Recruitment processes could change. Assessment criteria could be tweaked.
Some school principals also spoke about sensitisation of even the apparently sensitive and the need to be more open to listening to the child and the parent. The Heritage School, for example, said they would alter their pre-recruitment screening. The school will now look at social media profiles of the candidates, ask for references from previous employers and have a behavioural counsellor assess a job aspirant.
“If a teacher does something like this, who can a student look up to? The incident is shameful for the entire teaching community. We will communicate to our teachers to not compromise their position and do something that will bring the name of the (teaching) community down,” said Seema Sapru, principal.
BDM International said that in the new session starting next week, all teachers would be given a copy of the Pocso (Protection of children from sexual offences) Act and physical vigil will be enhanced. Section heads have been asked to do more rounds of the school than what they did before.
Loreto Convent Entally said sensitisation of staff members has to be a continuous process and ignorance of rules cannot be an excuse.
The St James’ School principal said the child has to be listened to and a school needs to remember that their “bread and butter” is dependent on the child.
Heritage principal Sapru said: “At the time of recruitment of teachers, we perhaps will have to understand not just the academic prowess of the recruits, but try to assess whether they have a clean background.
The recruits must have a session with a behavioural counsellor.”
There is always a fear that rigid enforcement of norms might make the school appear less welcoming, but that is the price the convictions would possibly extract.
“We will repeat the dos and don’ts to our teachers and tell them that they will have to maintain a safe distance from the children. Be approachable but you cannot show any warmth by even holding the child’s hand,” said Madhumita Seal, vice-principal of BDM International.
While systems and processes are being revisited, there are lingering doubts about whether a potential predator is easily identifiable.
“We have others’ children in our care, so teachers have to be conscious of their responsibility of ensuring the safety of the children. Sensitisation of teachers in schools has to be a regular activity,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Convent Entally.
Gomes Surana said an incident in one school cannot be seen as an isolated case.
“There has to be more conversations appraising teachers of the consequences of such an incident,” she said.
