NT Reporter
Panaji
In the last four-and-a-half months, the state recorded seven cases of alleged sexual assault on girl students in schools. Of these, police filed an ‘A-final’ report in court for two cases that remained undetected and a ‘C-final’ (closure)
report for two other cases that were detected after investigation.
Of the remaining three cases, two are pending trial, while the accused was acquitted in the third. According to government data, two such cases were reported in 2021, three in 2023, and two in 2024.
Government officials stated that as part of safety measures, schools, particularly aided schools, had been repeatedly directed to install CCTV cameras through various guidelines and advisories issued by the Directorate of Education. Despite these directives, over 56 per cent of the state’s 1,472 schools lack CCTV cameras.
One such circular regarding safety measures was issued in February 2013. The schools included in these statistics are aided, unaided, and government-run primary, high, and higher secondary schools. According to government data, 833 schools do not have CCTV cameras, while 639 schools have installed them.
A senior police officer said that to prevent sexual assaults on students, periodical training sessions are conducted for school staff on how to recognise and respond to such incidents. Awareness programmes have also been held in schools to establish clear policies and procedures for prevention and response. Students are empowered to speak up and report any incidents or concerns to trusted adults. Furthermore, beat officers and staff maintain regular patrols in their respective areas to ensure student safety and security.
In addition, the Directorate of Education has encouraged all schools to form school management committees (SMCs) and safety committees, which include teachers, parents, and local authorities, to periodically review safety measures. Sensitisation workshops for teachers and students on personal safety, cyber safety, and child rights have also been conducted regularly.
