WORKSHOP- CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

(JANUARY 15, 2020)

G D Goenka Public School, Sector 48, Gurugram ensures that all stakeholders are well equipped and updated with every relevant change and update which happens in the field of education. As a CBSE affiliated school, the school princial Dr Anuradha Handa, ensures that every educator is timely oriented so that he/she can communicate his/her learnings to the students and parents.

The workshop was to orient the educators of senior wing, teachers about the POCSO committee in school and the POCSO act which is “The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act”, which addresses all sexual offences below the age of 18 years.

The session was led by the school counsellors. Despite being observant on a daily basis, lending our ears and giving genuine advice and resolution, the session gave newer insights and generated sensitivity towards the seriousness of the matter. Though abuse of any sort is not acceptable and can leave everlasting impressions in any child’s mind, but its important to take immediate action when it comes to sexual abuse.

The educators were informed about the symptoms, reasons, causes, immediate actions to be taken and how lack or delay or ignorance is a punishable act. The matter is so serious that it is a criminal offence for which their in jail term as well as financial penalty.

The discussion took its course where teachers shared their own examples from different classroom settings and how they tried resolving it. In the end, emphasis on immediate reporting and resolution mechanism was ensured, so that less harm happens to the child who is unfortunately in such a situation. This was followed by a Q & A round.

The school counsellor also shared an email id through which teachers can share any grievance or seek any help which they might need in such matters – seniorcounsellorgdgps@gmail.com. The session was very fruitful highlighting problems that are emerging as serious concerns in the education sector.