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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Teacher held under Pocso Act in Krishnagiri
KRISHNAGIRI: A 35-year-old teacher appointed by the School Management Committee (SMC) in a Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) near Krishnagiri was arrested under the Pocso Act late at night on Thursday. Sources said the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) on Thursday received information about child abuse in a GHSS near Krishnagiri by a temporary teacher, following which a DCPU team rushed to the school on Thursday and held enquiries. The enquiry revealed that the SMC-appointed social science teacher has been working for over a year and allegedly sexually assaulted six girls in classes 6 and 9. Based on the statement, Legal cum Probation Officer of Krishnagiri DCPU, J Raghuraman, lodged a complaint at Krishnagiri All Women's Police Station (AWPS), and the teacher was booked under section 7 r/w 8 of the Pocso Act. He was later arrested and remanded. "The school headmaster, who was aware of the incident on Tuesday, did not inform DCPU until the team reached the spot on Thursday," said a police source. This is the fifth case in which a government school teacher has been booked under the Pocso Act since last month. Krishnagiri Chief Education Officer (in-charge) A Muniraj said, "We have already informed school headmasters to follow the GO 89 issued this April by the School Education Department with a course of action to be taken in case of such offences and procedures to be followed to inform concerned authorities. Within a week, headmasters will be directed to raise awareness about the GO among teachers. There are 102 higher secondary schools, 170 high schools, 1,740 panchayat union primary and middle schools in the district, apart from this, government schools and private schools will also be asked to follow the GO." He added, "Already, names of 50 government school teachers in 10 blocks have been given to the District Child Protection Unit, who will be given training about the Pocso Act, who in turn, will give training about the Act in their respective blocks." It may be noted that in March, the DCPU had distributed child safety awareness posters to about 2,000 schools in the district, which have contact numbers and support mechanisms.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt issues SOP to curb food poisoning in mid-day meals
Mumbai: Due to a rising number of cases of food poisoning caused by mid-day meals, the government has decided to codify and compile all food preparation and storage rules for mid-day meals into a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Checking of grains from suppliers, conducting regular health check-ups of cooks and staffers, and the preservation of a sample of the food served for 24 hours, as well as laboratory tests of food samples from randomly selected schools in each block every month, are among the various measures developed into an SOP. A senior education department official confirmed that after a number of food poisoning cases—like the recent one in Buldhana, where 13 tribal girls fell ill after eating a mid-day meal—the department issued a government resolution laying down the procedure precisely. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The SOP specifies what each stakeholder should do to prevent food poisoning. The School Management Committee will be responsible for checking the quality of grains received from the supplier and ensuring regular health check-ups for cooks and support staff. A headmaster must taste each meal prior to serving it to students, checking for quality and taste. He will also be responsible for keeping a sample of the food served for 24 hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: Teaspoon On an Empty Stomach Slims Waist from 36 To 22 Health Wellness Journal Learn more Undo Every Block Education Officer has to inspect the godowns where grain and other foodstuffs are stored every month. If a godown is found to be dirty, a fine of ₹50,000 will be levied, and a repeat offence will incur a fine of ₹1,00,000. The SOP also prohibits any food prepared outside the school from being served to children. Mahendra Ganpule, the former head of the Maharashtra School Principals' Association, drew attention to the lack of time a headmaster or teacher has to check the grain when a supplier delivers it: "We do not get time to check the grain properly. There should be at least 10 to 15 minutes provisioned for each school for the thorough checking of grain." The SOP also states the steps to be taken after an incident of food poisoning: isolate students showing symptoms and provide medical aid, inform the village head, police, and all competent authorities, collect and send food and water samples for testing, and if the lab reports confirm that food poisoning was caused by poor-quality materials, a criminal case should be filed against the supplier and payments withheld.
Hans India
29-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
AP sets Guinness World Record for largest PTM 2.0
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has earned a Guinness World Record for hosting the world's largest Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM), with over 53.4 lakh parents and teachers participating. Held on July 10, the event, dubbed Mega PTM 2.0, drew a total of 1.52 crore attendees, including students, alumni, School Management Committee (SMC) members, and philanthropists. This historic achievement underscores Andhra Pradesh's commitment to transforming public education and aligning government schools with global standards, said a statement from Samagra Shiksha on Monday. The initiative supports the state's vision to become a 'Quantum Valley,' fostering innovation and empowering youth through education. HRD minister Nara Lokesh expressed pride in the global recognition, dedicating the honor to the state's teachers for their tireless efforts. 'The Guinness World Record validates our mission to rejuvenate public education and promote inclusive learning. We dedicate this award to our teaching community,' he said. The record was confirmed after a rigorous audit of data from over 61,000 schools, including photographs, videos, verified participant counts, and independent witness statements, all collected via the state's LEAP app. This digital platform enhances education delivery by providing interactive content for students, structured lesson plans for teachers, and robust tools for the education department.'Over 40 auditors worked tirelessly to verify the data, ensuring the award's integrity,' said B Srinivasa Rao, state project director, Samagra Shiksha Andhra Pradesh. He added, 'This recognition will inspire us to further strengthen the Andhra Model Public Education system, ensuring quality and equitable education for all.' The official Guinness World Record certificate will be presented at a ceremony in Amaravati during the second week of August.
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra's Bapatla Municipal High School gets a major facelift
GUNTUR: In a shining example of responsive governance and community-driven development, the Bapatla Municipal High School has undergone a complete transformation within a year, fulfilling a promise made by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu during a landmark event. On December 7 last year, a grand Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) was held on the school premises, where parents, teachers, and members of the School Management Committee collectively brought several long-standing infrastructure issues to the attention of the Chief Minister. Responding to their concerns on the same platform, Naidu assured immediate action and directed officials to upgrade the school within a year. True to his word, the school now boasts 24 newly constructed classrooms, a spacious dining hall, and well-equipped science laboratories. Local MLA Vegesana Narendra Varma Raju and Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali played a key role in ensuring the timely completion and maintaining the quality of the work. The transformation was executed at a rapid pace, setting a benchmark for government school development. HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh lauded the achievement, stating, 'We kept our word. I congratulate everyone who contributed to this remarkable transformation. I urge students and teachers to uphold the name of Bapatla Municipal High School by striving for academic excellence.' According to Bapatla District Education Officer S Purushottam, the school has 747 students and 27 teachers.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- The Hindu
Parents demand action on Government school teacher near Sirumugai in Coimbatore district over misconduct
An English teacher at the Government High School in Iluppupalayam village near Sirumugai in Coimbatore district is facing allegations of reporting to work under the influence of alcohol and failing to conduct classes. According to headmaster C. Rajendran, the teacher, Periyasamy, who handles classes for Standards VI to IX, had been reporting to school in an inebriated state and arguing with students, other staff. Following complaints, he was deputed to another school for two months, but was transferred back in the current academic year. 'He often picks fights and neglects his classes. When I questioned him, he tried to assault me and used abusive language. Though he assured officials he would change, his behaviour has worsened since returning and shows no regard for accountability,' Mr. Rajendran told The Hindu. School Management Committee president B. Abirami said they had earlier complained to the headmaster. 'Students say he does not teach, and tells them to rely on guidebooks. My child, who is in Class VIII, was beaten once without reason and is discouraged from participating in any activities,' she said. 'We have asked the headmaster to remove him. If nothing is done, we will take the issue to the District Collector,' she added. Mr. Rajendran said the matter had been brought to the attention of Chief Educational Officer R. Balamurali, who has assured them that action will be taken on Monday.
