Chennai: The school has set a virtual complaint box to help their students submit complaints about sexual harassment or all forms of abuse.
However, no school in the city has so far received complaints about sexual harassment or those related to children’s protection of sexual violations (Pocso).
While Hindustan International School has installed a Google form on its website, Velammal Vidyalaya has created an exclusive e-mail ID where students can improve complaints, with secrecy guaranteed.
“We have created a strong monitoring system to ensure students feel safe,” Shyamala Subbu said, Vidyalaya Vidyalaya’s school.
Schools now have ‘observers’ or ‘silent teacher’, whose identity is not revealed, attending every online class.
Observers report how classes are done to their superiors.
C Bharati Lakshmi, Hindustan International Principal, said aside from the complaint box, senior teacher, including him, regularly interacted with students.
“Every complaint that the increase in students will be treated in secret,” said the principal.
Mita Venkatesh, Sri Sankara Middle School, said they also conducted an exclusive session through their counselors, raising awareness about the action.
Madras High Court recently directed every school in the state to establish an exclusive complaint box on their campus.
Education says the virtual platform is ideal for a temporary period.
While many schools do have these boxes, children’s rights experts say it is rarely used effectively because schools often take problems in their own hands and do their own questions.
“Schools need to understand that if there are complaints relating to Pocso raised, they need to take him to law enforcement agencies instead of carrying out their own investigation,” said the Jaikumar, education psychologist, and member of the Tamil Nadu State Commission for the Protection of Children’s Rights (TNSCPCR ).