Latest news with #DDPIs
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Only trained personnel to conduct Pocso awareness sessions in schools
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has issued directions to ensure that only trained professionals or legal experts are allowed to conduct awareness sessions on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in schools across the state. K Naganna Gowda, chairperson of KSCPCR, said directions were sent to deputy directors of public instructions (DDPI) after it was found that some trainers previously used Pocso cases as examples, revealing names and other details of victims. He said such awareness sessions could instil fear among children. To prevent this, KSCPCR has instructed DDPIs to ensure only individuals who have been trained by the special juvenile police unit (SJPU) or are legal experts associated with NGOs working on child rights protection to conduct these sessions. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "DDPIs should verify details of the resource persons beforehand. Officials should also ensure classes are not disturbed because of multiple awareness sessions," said Gowda. Child rights activists have welcomed the move and reiterated the importance of proper training for individuals conducting these sessions. They say certified and informed trainers are better equipped to handle sensitive topics without causing confusion or fear among students. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Nagasimha G Rao, director, Child Rights Trust, also emphasised the importance of using appropriate language during sessions. "Using terms like 'good touch' and 'bad touch' is inappropriate," he said, advocating instead for terms like safe touch and unsafe touch. Rao further stressed the need for resource persons to have a comprehensive understanding of both international and Indian laws, including the Pocso Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. He said individuals associated with NGOs working in the child protection space often have the necessary experience to conduct effective sessions. "We learnt that some trainers create confusion among the children as trainers themselves lack knowledge about the Pocso Act. So, we have begun training resource persons and requested KSCPCR to issue certificates to those who have been trained," Rao said. He said NGOs have already conducted awareness programmes in over 100 schools and plan to expand the initiative to cover all govt schools in the state. Rao said these programmes also play a crucial role in preventing child pregnancies by educating children about their rights and protection mechanisms.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
7k govt primary schools may lose land due to poor records; dept launches drive
Hubballi: While 7,000 govt primary schools in state have fewer than 10 students and face the threat of closure, as many as 17,356 were at risk of losing land in Jan. The total number of govt primary schools in the state is 43,564. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Now, the department of school education (DSE) has launched a special three-month drive to officially register land in the names of govt schools. Prof Purushottam Bilimale, chairman of Kannada Development Authority, Bengaluru, told TOI he was informed about this issue during his visits to Bidar and Yadgir six months ago. "We were surprised to learn about an incident in Devanahalli, where a govt primary school was demolished overnight. We started addressing this issue in district review meetings and instructing all deputy commissioners. In turn, DCs started insisting DDPIs prioritise it. Now it is a good move that DSE has launched a special drive," he welcomed. KV Trilok Chandra, commissioner of DSE, stated that the number of such primary schools with poor land records was over 20,000 last year. "It stood at 17,356 six months ago. As our officials are working in this regard, it has now reduced to about 13,000. We have launched a special drive to get the land records of the remaining 7,000 schools registered in the next three months," he stated. He further said, "Many schools were built on donated plots, not registered under their names. There is a possibility of facing suits in courts. To address this, we have instructed DDPIs and BEOs to ensure all govt schools in their jurisdiction are equipped with land records. If there are any encroachments, we have insisted they coordinate with the district administration, revenue department, and other necessary departments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Once the land records are registered, they will be uploaded on the department's SATS software." Sources in DSE said that the drive was launched following the instruction of V Rashmi Mahesh, principal secretary to the govt, department of school education and literacy. Chandrashekhar Nuggali, president of the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers Association, Bengaluru, noted that primary schools are threatened by land mafia, especially in urban and semi-urban areas, where land prices have skyrocketed. "Misusing the situation, successors of land donors started reclaiming their land rights, and cases are piling up in courts. Now the department's move is expected to save schools and students at large," he commented.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Issue notices to edu officers of districts with low pass percentage: Siddaramaiah to Chief Secy
Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday instructed that notices be issued to Deputy Directors of Public Instruction in districts where the pass percentage in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate /Class 10 exams is below 60 per cent. At the review meeting with Deputy Commissioners of all districts and CEOs of all Zilla Panchayats here, the CM asked Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to issue notices to DDPIs. "If the response given to the notice is not satisfactory, action should be taken against them," Siddaramaiah was quoted as telling officers, his office said in a release. Asking officials not to make the excuse of teacher shortage or staff shortage for the low results in SSLC, he said good results are coming only in Dakshina Kannada and few other districts. "DDPIs must take responsibility. They, along with secretaries in charge of districts, must visit schools and review the performance of teachers and DDPIs work with interest, good results will come everywhere," he said. Noting that there should be no delay in allocating funds for the construction of schoolrooms under the Viveka scheme, the CM said the action plan should be prepared immediately. He questioned the DCs as to why the schoolrooms had not been constructed yet, even after the money was released. Pointing out that the enrollment rate at government schools is decreasing every year, Siddaramaiah said teachers and officials should talk to parents so that the enrollment rate of children in government schools does not decrease, and everything possible should be done to prevent dropouts. "Why is the enrollment rate of children decreasing despite the government providing eggs, milk, ragi malt, soup, and hostel facilities?" he asked and told the officials to take necessary steps to resolve the problems by getting information about their practical experiences and taking necessary action. The CM instructed the CEOs and DCs and District in-charge secretaries of the districts whose examination results and child enrollment to schools are lower than the state average, to ensure that the situation improves by the next academic year. CEOs of Kalyana Karnataka region districts should pay more attention and monitor this matter. The reasons and excuses for the low results are not important, it is important to bring results, he said. The CM told them that if there is sincere effort, sincere results will come.
