Roles of School Principals as an Effective Leaders to Ensure the Safety and Security of Children in Capacity Building Program Discussed

By 121 News

Chandigarh, Sept.08, 2022:- Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) in collaboration with State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), Chandigarh organized a "Capacity Building Program for the Principals" of private school of U.T. Chandigarh to sensitize about various legal provisions of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and POCSO Act,2012 and also to talk on safety and security of children in school on 08.09.2022 at Convention Hall, Chandigarh Judicial Academy, sector 43, Chandigarh. 

By introducing the theme of the occasion, Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson, CCPCR highlighted that role of education department is of paramount importance in wellbeing of children. Therefore it becomes more essential that being the heads of the schools must make effective endeavors for the safety and overall development of their students. Adoption of sensitive approach is must for safeguarding the rights of children. Seema, Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Dhanas have been awarded by president of India on teachers' day at New Delhi. Seema was facilitated and congratulated by Harjinder Kaur for recognition of her initiatives like digital library, honesty shop on national platform.

 

The Chief Guest of the occasion, Purva Garg, Secretary Education, Chandigarh Administration congratulated and acknowledged the tireless endeavors being implemented by the Commission be it Girl India Project and setting up of Digital libraries in schools of peripheral areas. She threw light on positive impact of group learnings for children which can help in building new projects. 

Anshu Sharma, Consultant (Education) NCPCR highlighted that cases of violence and sexual offences against children are on rise. Major discussion was on POCSO Act, Transportation guidelines and trafficking. Importance of counselling at school level to support the child in difficult times and also to stop the child when needed was also talked upon.  Light was also put on roles of schools in ensuring safety for children at school. 

Prof. Jatinder Grover, Education Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh threw light on "Academic Leadership for Effective administration of Educational Institutions" in detail and said that principals play an important role as a leader in students' life. Building of an effective team at ground level to attain goals of effecting leadership is need of the hour. 

 While speaking on the occasion, Dr K.P. Singh, IPS (Retd.), Director General of Police highlighted 'Roles of school Principals in Juvenile justice act'. Schools are the legal custodian of child under JJ act so major discussion was done on responsibilities of educational institution in maintaining DOB proof, not to reveal the identity of children in conflict with the law, zero tolerance for crime against children, Principals can play a vital role to solve this issue by reporting the issues and counselling students about their rights. 

 Surender Kumar, Member Secretary, State Legal Service Authority, Chandigarh threw light on Protection of Children from sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 and said that the principals should ensure the safety and security of students and if any case of sexual abuse happens then immediate reporting of such incident must be done by the school authorities. He talked about the various provisions as mentioned in the concerned act. They encouraged the participants to work as a team to fill the existing gaps in the implementation.

B.P.S Bakshi, Managing Director, Safety Circle Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh discussed on Safety and Security of Children in Schools. Major light was put on safety as a holistic education, importance of safety audit of institutions. He talked about HIRA i.e., hazard identification and risk assessment. They encouraged the participants to work as a team to make safety as part of behavior so that it can become part and parcel of culture.

Open house session was also conducted to answer and discuss the queries of all the participants.

Seema, principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Dhanas was facilitated by Harjinder Kaur for representing Chandigarh on National Platform at new Delhi on teachers day.

Vote of thanks was extended by Dr. Monica Singh, Member, CCPCR to all.  

Sanjay Sharma, Member, CCPCR, Ravinder Kaur, Ex-officio Member, CCPCR-cum-Dy. Director School Education,  Chanchal Singh, RTE Consultant, CCPCR, Kartar Singh, Legal Consultant, Ankita, POCSO Consultant, Arvind k. Dhawan, Sr.Assistant, CCPCR and Shekhar, Clerk, CCPCR were also present during this training program.