How safe are play schools in India?

Preschools in India are such an important phase in a child’s life when he or she gets exposed to an all new setting of learning comprising teachers and children. It’s first unique experience for the child to learn to share, follow instructions to start off laying the foundation of education that begins in elementary school. Concern for Safety is the one factor that no parent wants to compromise on and want to enroll their pupils in one of the best preschools in India. It is extremely important to provide the child with a safe and secure environment predominantly at the preschool level when the child is most vulnerable to various abuses. Considering the possibilities of various forms of abuses that children can fall victim to, it is crucial for the parents or any legal guardian of the child to ensure a safe and secured environment for them at a place, where they cannot be under the watchful eyes of them. Building a healthy learning environment, identifying the pupils who are in distress or at a risk of harm and ensuring a swift and suitable action are vital components to confirm the little ones remain safe all the times.

According to National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) report for 2016, 9,800 cases of rape and incest on children were registered across India under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) hence these little ones are too vulnerable to any mental or physical abuse. Cases of child sexual abuse or assault reported from preschools are alarmingly high these cases have inevitably raised questions about how preschools hire staff and who controls them. In reality, preschools function outside the purview of the State government and there has been no law or guidelines governing preschools. Unlike the primary and secondary schools which need to be registered with the concerned department (if it’s state board) and with the CBSE (for central board), preschools have so far remained out of the ambit of any such board or controlling authority.

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has developed a set of guidelines for the prevention of child abuse in 2013. It lays down what schools must do to protect children from sexual abuse through guidelines and protocols that need to be followed for the recruitment of staff, and details the child protection standards that need to be in place. The most important among them is the framing of a child protection policy applicable to all persons employed by the institution and even visitors; it calls for the setting up of a complaints mechanism for children, parents and guardians, and appropriate training and orientation for them.

The first responsibility falls upon the preschool management. They should make sure classrooms are safe and proper hiring decisions are made. Teachers and staff, as well as third parties like drivers, need to be qualified and background-checked. Premises for the preschool should be separate and have gates, walls and other obstacles to ensure security against exit of the children or entry of those who may wish harm to the children, not just this all staff should undergo a background check, including legal and criminal records. Teaching and non-teaching staff must be trained to respond in any emergency for the benefit of the kids as well as overall benefit of themselves too.