Create panel to study psychological issues of students

While dealing with a plea of a teacher using abusive words and beating up Class 12 students in Shenoy Nagar, Justice M V Muralidharan had directed the creation of a committee. But when the matter was taken up for hearing on Wednesday, the special government pleader appearing for the Education department sought time to produce the report and file a counter affidavit.

“We no more live in an archaic age where to condition or train a young child, abusive techniques can be adopted. Let it be parents or teachers, they ought not to abuse or threaten or manhandle young children,” the judge had held in his earlier order on December 12, and had directed the constitution of a committee headed by the Director of School Education, the respective district chief educational officers, renowned academicians and psychiatrists to ensure the psychological welfare of young students and prevent any unfortunate incidents in future like committing suicide as they were reprimanded by teachers.

While seeking to assess broadly the psychological issues the young students face in schools, Justice Muralidharan had also held that on identifying the issues and problems faced by these students in school, there should be dedicated counselling and orientation programme conducted for all school teachers and students throughout the state. The order had also directed the government to take steps to ensure every school has dedicated counsellors appointed to help children in need of emotional support. Another direction had sought appropriate instructions to teachers on how to handle children who are sensitive without using any abusive techniques.