IMPHAL, June 19: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has expressed grave concern over the repeated incidents of subjecting young students to physical assaults and mental harassment in the name of disciplining by their own teachers in the State.
According to a release of the MACR, the recent incident involving a teacher of the St Joseph School Sangaiprou which occurred on June 16 is quite deplorable and highly condemnable.
It testified again that school authorities and teachers are still unable to give up the outdated concept of using `Corporal Punishment` as a part of education in the schools.
It is quite horrendous to learn that a young student of class VI was mercilessly assaulted by canning with as much as 51 counts on both palms other parts of the body by a teacher that dropped the child in a severe traumatic condition.
It is a stark violation of the Section 17 (1) of Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which prohibits physical and mental harassment to child. And the St. Joseph Schools authority needs to understand that, whoever contravenes the sub -section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to such person, it said.
MACR has appealed the school authority to be more sensible in the Right to Education of the child and to stop any kind of re-victimizing approach, which may affect the academic career or emotional health of the child. It further appealed the school authority, student`™s bodies and state authority to take up immediate steps so that normal academic atmosphere is restored in the school, and every child gets his or her right to education without fear of Corporal Punishment and re-victimisation, it said.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools`™ Welfare Association, Imphal has also expressed grave concern over the issue which has resulted in the arrest of several members of the DESAM.
A press release of the association has said that it strongly condemned the teacher`™s physical assault on a student and the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM due to a misunderstanding by the police.
Moreover, the association has also submitted a memorandum to DESAM appealing not to impose bandhs or blockades regarding the issue and not to take up any issue against the Education sector as well.
It further appealed to DESAM not to inflict any form of disturbance during the programme `Disturbance Free Zone in Education`™ to be held on July 5 through out Manipur, it said.
The association has also appealed for the release of the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM in order to avoid any agitations from student organisations, it said.
The All India Students`™ Federation (AISF) Manipur State Council has also demanded the government to take up necessary steps on the issue.
According to a release of the council, a teacher beating his student is not for personal gain but in order to draw the student to the right path.
Similarly, DESAM`™s assault on the teacher is due to his misconduct, it said.
The issue was due to the teacher`™s excessive use of force against the student which the student body considered to be an insult to the whole student community, it said.
The council has appealed to resolve the issue as soon as possible in order to avoid any form of agitation. It also appealed the release of DESAM members as soon as possible.
It further stated that it is necessary for the student, teacher and members of DESAM to arrange a meeting with the government and discuss the issue in a democratic manner as soon as possible otherwise any form of agitation that may occur will be sole responsibility of the government, it said.
All Manipur Students`™ Guardian Organisation has also joined in the several organisation in condemning the incident.
A statement of the organisation signed by its secretary organisation S Sumati said that the incident of a teacher assaulting his student in such a reputed school like the St Joseph High School is condemnable.
She further appealed to the school authorities to check the credentials and qualifications of candidates prior to their recruitment as teachers.
On the other hand it is also wrong for a student association like DESAM to summon a teacher and thrashing him, she said.
The quick response of the State police is also laudable, she said.
Sumita further appealed to revoke the stand for stronger form of agitation from the DESAM if the apprehended 16 DESAM members are not released within 24 hours time and also showed interest to legally punish the teacher accordingly.
Sumati further mentioned that the incoming trend of serving harsh punishment to the students at private schools has triggered fear psychosis among the guardians from putting their wards to private schools and boardings.
Later she appealed not to repeat the incident in future and to release the 16 apprehended DESAM members at the earliest.