The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) authorities to take steps to sensitise all teachers and other stakeholders, including those engaged in teaching activities or examination duties, to child rights to ensure that basic rights of children are not violated.
Acting on a complaint by Seema Lal, founder of a child rights advocacy forum, commission member K. Nazeer directed the NIOS Director (Evaluation) and its Regional Director to give proper instructions to the stakeholders regarding the norms and procedures of the NIOS. If any instructions were issued for compliance by students, it should be communicated to the students in advance, the panel said.
Ms. Lal’s complaint said that her child, who had reached Irshadiyya Public School, Koovalloor, Kothamangalam, to sit for the Class 10 board examinations was asked by the Principal of the school why he was dressed indecently in T-shirt and shorts and told to summon his parents.
However, there was no mention of a dress code on the hall ticket or the NIOS portal. The complainant chanced upon the Principal outside his office. In front of other parents, school staff, and an NIOS observer who was shooting a video on the interaction without permission, he asked her about her child’s attire. He also denied not allowing the child to appear for the examination. The child was then allowed inside the exam hall.
The complainant worried that if her child was treated in such a manner, what would differently abled children, a large number of whom appear for the examinations under the NIOS, face especially by the authorities who were supposed to safeguard children’s rights.
The Regional Director’s report said when informed of the matter, the centre authorities were contacted over phone, and they assured him the child was taking the examinations. No complaint had been raised with the Regional Director. The parent’s concern had been taken in good spirit for students’ benefit. The NIOS had not prescribed any dress code, and the children were free to wear comfortable attire.
The Principal contended that he never intended to insult the child, and he was ready to apologise.
The commission observed that the incident occurred owing to non-sensitisation of stakeholders, including invigilators and exam supervisors. As students were involved in various levels of educational programmes in NIOS, its officers and all stakeholders needed to be sensitised to child rights and ways of conducting courses and examinations.
