Subjected to corporal punishment for years, say students

Following a parent’s concerns over the incidents of corporal punishment and humiliation of students in an ICSE school near Halasuru, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) conducted an enquiry in the school on Monday.

The enquiry revealed that the two upper floors of the school, where pre-nursery, nursery, and lower primary classes are conducted, did not have CCTV coverage.

Last week, a parent had posted on social media that her child was beaten by a teacher and another child was punished by pulling down their undergarments and shaming them in front of the classroom.

“The school headmaster said that they do not have funds for CCTV installation. The school promised to cover all floors under CCTV surveillance,” a member of the enquiry team said.

According to sources, the school was violating rules which say that nursery and pre-primary classes should be conducted on the lower floors. Students of the school said that they have been subjected to corporal punishment for several years but no one had the courage to raise their voice till now.

The DCPU will be submitting its report to the Department of Women and Child Development. Kripa Alva, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) said that she would visit the school on Tuesday for an inspection.

The school authorities have also been summoned to appear before KSPCR on February 16.