Locking up two school kids in classroom MCPCR cracks whip, directs
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By Our Staff Reporter
After two minor students of Class II were "wrongfully confined" in a classroom locked from the outside, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has directed ZEO Wangoi Zone to conduct an immediate time-bound inquiry.
An Action Taken Report (ATR), supported by documentary evidence, shall be submitted to the commission within 10 days, the commission has directed the ZEO Wangoi Zone.
The alleged incident happened on February 6 at a school under the jurisdiction of the ZEO Wangoi Zone, Imphal West.
An order issued by the MCPCR on February 14 shows a female teacher has been placed under suspension for three months.
Involvement of more teachers in the incident is suspected, it said.
Notably, parents of the two children had filed a written complaint with the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) which prompted it to conduct an on-site inspection at the school and issue the direction to the ZEO Wangoi Zone.
The allegation, if substantiated, disclosed prima facie violations of the statutory prohibition against corporal punishment and mental harassment under Section 17 of the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and raises serious concern of unlawful confinement causing psychological trauma, said the MCPCR in its February 14 order.
A female Assistant Teacher has been reportedly placed under suspension for three months. However, the complaint alleges involvement of more than one teacher, necessitating the determination of full accountability, it said.
Statements attributed to the concerned teachers indicate an inability to manage approximately 80-90 students in a single classroom, suggesting possible overcrowding and non-compliance with prescribed pupil-teacher norms and child protection standards, it added.
During the on-site inspection, the Commission said it observed deficiencies requiring institutional, administrative, and child-protection, safeguards measures.
The ZEO Wangoi Zone, Imphal West shall conduct an immediate, independent, and time-bound inquiry into the incident, said the MCPCR.
The inquiry shall ascertain the exact enrolment and attendants of Class II/B on the day of the incident (February 6), it said.
The inquiry shall examine the professional qualifications and certified child protection training status of the teachers concerned, and determine whether their alleged acts constitute corporal punishment, mental harassment, or unlawful confinement in violation of applicable laws, said the MCPCR.
The inquiry shall also examine administrative lapses, and functional status of parents/guardians' association, child protection policy and student grievance redressal mechanism and internal grievance mechanism for staff.
The inquiry shall fix individual and institutional responsibility, and recommend appropriate disciplinary, corrective, and systemic measures to ensure non-recurrence of the incident, said the Commission, calling for an Action Taken Report within 10 days.
After two minor students of Class II were "wrongfully confined" in a classroom locked from the outside, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has directed ZEO Wangoi Zone to conduct an immediate time-bound inquiry.
An Action Taken Report (ATR), supported by documentary evidence, shall be submitted to the commission within 10 days, the commission has directed the ZEO Wangoi Zone.
The alleged incident happened on February 6 at a school under the jurisdiction of the ZEO Wangoi Zone, Imphal West.
An order issued by the MCPCR on February 14 shows a female teacher has been placed under suspension for three months.
Involvement of more teachers in the incident is suspected, it said.
Notably, parents of the two children had filed a written complaint with the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) which prompted it to conduct an on-site inspection at the school and issue the direction to the ZEO Wangoi Zone.
The allegation, if substantiated, disclosed prima facie violations of the statutory prohibition against corporal punishment and mental harassment under Section 17 of the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and raises serious concern of unlawful confinement causing psychological trauma, said the MCPCR in its February 14 order.
A female Assistant Teacher has been reportedly placed under suspension for three months. However, the complaint alleges involvement of more than one teacher, necessitating the determination of full accountability, it said.
Statements attributed to the concerned teachers indicate an inability to manage approximately 80-90 students in a single classroom, suggesting possible overcrowding and non-compliance with prescribed pupil-teacher norms and child protection standards, it added.
During the on-site inspection, the Commission said it observed deficiencies requiring institutional, administrative, and child-protection, safeguards measures.
The ZEO Wangoi Zone, Imphal West shall conduct an immediate, independent, and time-bound inquiry into the incident, said the MCPCR.
The inquiry shall ascertain the exact enrolment and attendants of Class II/B on the day of the incident (February 6), it said.
The inquiry shall examine the professional qualifications and certified child protection training status of the teachers concerned, and determine whether their alleged acts constitute corporal punishment, mental harassment, or unlawful confinement in violation of applicable laws, said the MCPCR.
The inquiry shall also examine administrative lapses, and functional status of parents/guardians' association, child protection policy and student grievance redressal mechanism and internal grievance mechanism for staff.
The inquiry shall fix individual and institutional responsibility, and recommend appropriate disciplinary, corrective, and systemic measures to ensure non-recurrence of the incident, said the Commission, calling for an Action Taken Report within 10 days.