Hereafter, the students as well as teachers in TN cannot wear dresses as per their choices during the online classes!!
The news that has emerged out now is that the school education department has suggested a dress code for both students and teachers during the online classes. Schools must place safety boxes to receive complaints and feedback from the students. This was mentioned in the new guidelines for safety and protection issued by the school education department.
It must be remembered that some days back a Chennai based school teacher was held for sexually harassing the students during the online class. Many complaints were received regarding this issue and due to this the TN government had set up a committee led by the school education commissioner to come up with suitable guidelines for the online classes.
Information is that the school education department has mandated all types of schools in TN to set up a student safeguarding advisory committee headed by the principal to monitor, review and recommend steps at the institutional levels on all aspects of student’s safety.
Two teachers, 2 parents and 1 representative each from the management, non-teaching staff and an external member would be present in the committee. Principal would be a permanent member and every year 50percent of the committee members would be replaced and no members would be there for more than 2 years. This was according to the guidelines.
It was mentioned that all online classes should be recorded and there would be a random audit by a quorum of students safeguarding the advisory committee undertaken periodically. For taking suitable action, the feedback would be reviewed periodically.
A register must be maintained by the school level committee to document all the complaints and conducts of sexual misconduct received by the school management and administration by whichever mode of communication.
A state level central complaint centre of CCC would be set up by the school education department with a hotline facility and dedicated email-id to receive the complaints of sexual abuse in the schools. It has been brought out that upon receipt or knowledge of sexual abuse the school level committee would immediately inform the central complaint centre.