
Central Board of Secondary Education
CBSE: Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act
2012
All children have an equal right to access education in an
environment that is safe, protective and conducive to the overall development.
The challenges of gender inequality, eve teasing and sexual abuse in school
environment call for increased awareness and creating synergy among parents,
teachers and schools.
In order to ensure strict compliance of the Protection of
child from sexual offence (POCSO) Act 2012, CBSE has taken several initiatives
and actions for creating awareness about sexual exploitation among the school
children.
Gender sensitive Learning Material
Under the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) Scheme,
23 modules based on Life Skills have been prepared for the trainers to give an
insight to the growing up issues, managing emotions, gender, social and other
issues of discrimination.
Reinforcing its commitment towards gender sensitivity and
equality, CBSE has developed Educator’s Manual and Cards on Gender sensitive
teaching in classes’ 1-XII. The Manual is designed to be a practical guide for
making teaching and learning processes gender friendly. A new elective subject
at +2 is also being provided as Human Rights and Gender Studies to reinforce
gender equality and harmony.
Role of Schools
1. Teachers, Management and all employees of institutions need to be made
aware about the provisions of the Act, some of which cast a duty on them to
report instance of child abuse, as in Sections 19(I) and 21.
2. In- house induction sessions should be held for all teachers to include a
specific module on gender sensitization.
Sexual offences committed by the persons who are in the ownership, management
of staff of education institutions and persons in positions of Trust and
Authority over children are liable for higher punishment as per the
provisions of the Act.
3. School/Classroom Environment Schools must ensure and promote a
harmonious school/classroom environment and inclusiveness.
4. Provision for guidance and counselling facilities in schools
Teachers in general should be trained to attend to adolescent (gender) related
issues, conduct of adolescent education programmes and special
activities that promote gender equality and sensitivity.