Latest news with #DepartmentofGeneralEducation
Economic Times
09-08-2025
- Economic Times
Kerala govt introduces 'help box' in schools to curb child abuse at home
Synopsis Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced 'Suraksha Mitram,' a comprehensive action plan, following the alleged abuse of a class 4 girl. The initiative includes help boxes in schools, teacher training, and strengthened parenting clinics. Departments will collaborate to identify and protect children, with a focus on open communication and supportive environments, ensuring child safety. Agencies In response to the alleged mistreatment of a class 4 girl by her father and stepmother in a coastal district, State General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday announced a comprehensive action plan, 'Suraksha Mitram', to prevent such incidents in the visiting and interacting with the girl, Sivankutty held a press conference, stressing that violence against children will not be tolerated under any circumstances."The government is taking this issue very seriously and will ensure all necessary protection and assistance for the child," he said. The special action plan, formulated by the General Education Department, focuses on identifying children suffering abuse and providing them with appropriate protection. As part of the initiative, all schools in Kerala will install a 'help box' where students can report their problems. The responsibility for the box will lie with the headmaster or headmistress, who must open it at least once a week to review reports and forward relevant information to the Department of General Education. Teachers will also receive specialised training to observe changes in children's behavior and identify any issues. Emphasis will be placed on friendly interactions and careful observation to create a supportive the recent case, the abuse came to light after a teacher noticed the girl had written about the physical abuse she endured in her said children will be encouraged to express their concerns openly through diary writing and zero-hour project will be implemented in coordination with the departments of Women and Child Development, Social Justice, Local Self-Government, Health, and parenting clinics will be strengthened to provide counseling to parents facing government will also fully utilise homes and special facilities for children in need of protection. "The Director of Public Education will soon issue a Standard Operating Procedure for the safety and protection of children," the minister added, reaffirming the government's commitment to child safety.
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Kerala govt introduces ''help box'' in schools to curb child abuse at home
Alappuzha , In response to the alleged mistreatment of a Class 4 girl by her father and stepmother in a coastal district, State General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday announced a comprehensive action plan, 'Suraksha Mitram', to prevent such incidents in the future. Kerala govt introduces ''help box'' in schools to curb child abuse at home After visiting and interacting with the girl, Sivankutty held a press conference, stressing that violence against children will not be tolerated under any circumstances. "The government is taking this issue very seriously and will ensure all necessary protection and assistance for the child," he said. The special action plan, formulated by the General Education Department, focuses on identifying children suffering abuse and providing them with appropriate protection. As part of the initiative, all schools in Kerala will install a 'help box' where students can confidentially report their problems. The responsibility for the box will lie with the headmaster or headmistress, who must open it at least once a week to review reports and forward relevant information to the Department of General Education. Teachers will also receive specialised training to observe changes in children's behavior and identify any issues. Emphasis will be placed on friendly interactions and careful observation to create a supportive environment. In the recent case, the abuse came to light after a teacher noticed the girl had written about the physical abuse she endured in her notebook. Sivankutty said children will be encouraged to express their concerns openly through diary writing and zero-hour sessions. The project will be implemented in coordination with the departments of Women and Child Development, Social Justice, Local Self-Government, Health, and Police. Existing parenting clinics will be strengthened to provide counseling to parents facing difficulties. The government will also fully utilise homes and special facilities for children in need of protection. "The Director of Public Education will soon issue a Standard Operating Procedure for the safety and protection of children," the minister added, reaffirming the government's commitment to child safety. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Urgent safety audit in schools across Kerala after Karthikappally roof collapse incident: Edu Min Sivankutty
PALAKKAD: In response to the partial roof collapse at the Government UP School in Karthikappally, Alappuzha, the Department of General Education has decided to conduct an immediate and comprehensive safety audit of school buildings across Kerala. Minister for General Education V Sivankutty announced the decision while addressing the media on Monday morning in Palakkad. He confirmed that a time-bound action plan will be formulated to ensure student safety. 'As part of conducting the audit, a high-level meeting of department officials will be convened on Tuesday (July 22) at 9.30 am at the Shiksha Sadan, Thiruvananthapuram. The meeting, chaired by the Minister, will be attended by senior officials including Deputy Directors of Education, Regional and Assistant Directors, DIET Principals, District Educational Officers (DEOs), Assistant Educational Officers (AEOs), District Project Officers, KITE District Coordinators, and Vidyakiranam Coordinators,' the minister said. The meeting will review the progress of directives issued through the circular released on May 13, 2025, which detailed preparatory steps for reopening schools. Based on this, a new state-wide school inspection schedule has been planned.
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Kerala to take strict action in Thevalakkara student electrocution death case; family to get house, aid
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of General Education will take strong action in the incident where Midhun, a Class 8 student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam, allegedly died after being electrocuted on campus, said Minister V Sivankutty. The decision comes after the department received a detailed report from the Director of General Education. The minister announced a series of steps to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The school headmistress will be suspended with immediate effect. A show-cause notice will be issued to the school management for allegedly failing to act on safety lapses. The management has been asked to respond within three days. The Additional Educational Officer who was in charge of the school at the time will be asked to provide an explanation. Since the District Educational Officer of Kollam had retired when the academic year began, AEO Antony Peter had been given the DEO's additional charge. The department will use powers under Rule 7 of Chapter 3 of the Kerala Education Rules to take further action against the management if necessary. The minister also urged the management to seriously consider providing financial assistance to Midhun's family.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Children should become frontline fighters against drug abuse, says CM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the addiction to drugs was a deadly scourge that destroys wisdom, friendship, and knowledge. He was speaking after inaugurating the State-level anti-drug campaign implemented by the Department of General Education at Cotton Hill Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The action plan to be implemented against drug abuse in all schools in the State was launched on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Children should become the frontline fighters against drug abuse, he said. The State government has put in place many measures against drug abuse that students are unaware of. The action plan has been formulated taking note of this and to address this lacuna. Teachers are responsible for creating awareness and exploring the possibilities of dissuading the students from drug addiction. For this purpose, special training programs are also being provided to teachers, said the Chief Minister. Parents should also play a major role in ensuring that their children do not fall into the trap of addiction. They should spend more time with their children and interact with them in a healthy way along with monitoring their changes. Since not all parents may be equally capable of this, special training will be provided for parents to empower them, said the Chief Minister. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has prepared a special book to help maintain a healthy lifestyle for children. A Prahari Club has been formed to monitor drug-related activities. Further, the Jagratha Brigade, comprising 30 to 50 students from selected schools, is coordinating anti-drug activities. Community discussions against drugs will also be organised. Complaints received through this platform will be addressed once a week under the leadership of the head teachers. The General Education department has designed this year's action plan beginning on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit ending on January 30, 2026. The Chief Minister also requested teachers, parents, and the general public to participate in this action plan along with students to bring about a change
