Abstract
Schools are considered to be one of the safest places where children are seen on a daily basis and are under the supervision of teachers who are trained and equipped caregivers. Children are victims of all forms of abuse, punishment, neglect, discrimination, and ill-treatment within the school setting. Though there are various policies and programmes at international and national levels, addressing child protection has been a serious challenge for every community. Children need to be protected and any acts that hamper their well-being and safety need to be curbed. The objective of this chapter is to critically evaluate school-based child-protection programmes and suggest a model of child protection through positive schooling. Positive schooling is an approach to create a healthier and safer school environment. Positive schooling emphasises inclusiveness, strength-based education, develo** character strengths, creating least restrictive environments, and fostering well-being among the school community, including students and teachers. It aims at creating a positive culture where every learner gets equal opportunities to learn and develop. It gives value to overall well-being of the individual and happiness within the learning environment. It promotes positive teaching strategies without the use of punishment and pressure. The positive culture within the school environment would promote peer support and collaboration, preventing bullying and abuse. Learners and facilitators would respect and support each other, focusing on strengths rather than weakness, which would, in turn, create an inclusive environment accommodating everyone. The chapter also highlights the need for: trained professionals, like counsellors, in school settings; stronger school-based polices; and the need for collaboration among school administrators, counsellors, teachers, and parents.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arun, P., Garg, R., & Chavan, B. S. (2017). Stress and suicidal ideation among adolescents having academic difficulty. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 2(1), 64.
Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA). (2017). Child protection handbook. Retrieved from www.aisa.or.ke/images/CP_Handbook_Appendicies_March_2017.pdf.
Ba-Saddik, A. S., & Hattab, A. S. (2012). Emotional abuse towards children by schoolteachers in Aden Governorate, Yemen: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 647.
Child Line India Foundation. (2008). The essentials of child protection a handbook for beginners. Retrieved from https://www.childlineindia.org.in/pdf/Essentials-of-child-protection-Oct%2008.pdf.
Correspondent. (BBC NEWS, 2017, 1 December). Pakistan attack: Gunmen storm Peshawar training college. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42191487.
Correspondent. (2017a, August). Manipur teen death: Blue Whale game to blame? Times of India. Delhi News, Retrieved from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/blue-whale-game-to-blame-for-eatery-death-cops-probe/articleshow/60066022.cms.
Correspondent. (2017b, August). Another suspected suicide due to Blue Whale challenge reported from Kerala. Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Retrieved from http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/another-suspected-suicide-due-to-blue-whale-challenge-reported-from-kerala/story-IpcMkzvGiWVSvqCv1Exs8M.html.
Corder, K., van Sluijs, E. M., Ridgway, C. L., Steele, R. M., Prynne, C. J., Stephen, A. M., ... & Ekelund, U. (2013). Breakfast consumption and physical activity in adolescents: Daily associations and hourly patterns. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 99(2), 361–368.
District Primary Education Programme (DPEP). (1994). Govt. of India.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). (2009). Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India.
Jayanthi, P., Thirunavukarasu, M., & Rajkumar, R. (2015). Academic stress and depression among adolescents: A cross-sectional study. Indian Pediatrics, 52(3), 217–219.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV). (2004). Govt. of India.
Kesztyüs, D., Traub, M., Lauer, R., Kesztyüs, T., & Steinacker, J. M. (2017). Skip** breakfast is detrimental for primary school children: Cross-sectional analysis of determinants for targeted prevention. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 258.
Khan, I. (2017). Pre-school principal booked under POCSO, after more complaints pour in. CNN-News18. Retrieved from http://www.news18.com/news/india/pre-school-principal-booked-under-pocso-after-more-complaints-pour-in-1352656.html.
Khan, I., & Balakrishnan, D. (2017, April). French diplomat Pascal Mazurier acquitted in child abuse case. CNN-News18. Retrieved from http://www.news18.com/news/india/french-diplomat-pascal-mazurier-acquitted-in-child-abuse-case-1377837.html.
Lewis, R. (2014). Peshawar school massacre terrorist attack. Peshawar, Pakistan. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Peshawar-school-massacre.
Mendonca, G. (2015, 16 December). School bus driver held for sexually abusing girl. The Times of India, Mumbai. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/School-bus-driver-held-for-sexually-abusing-girl/articleshow/50193998.cms.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme. (1995). Govt. of India.
Miske, S. J. (2010). Child-friendly schools—Safe schools, (Keynote Speech). In Second International Symposium on Children at Risk and in Need of Protection. Ankara, Turkey. Retrieved from miskewitt.com/assets/2.-final_cfs-safe_schools_050810.pdf.
National Charter for Children. (2004). Govt. of India.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. (2006). Govt. of India.
National Plan of Action for Children in India. (2005). Govt. of India.
National Policy for Children. (1974). Govt. of India.
National Safe Schools Framework. (2011). Department of education, employment and workplace relations, Australian government. Retrieved from https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/national_safe_schools_framework.pdf.
Osher, D., Kelly, D., Tolani-Brown, N., Shors, L., & Chen, C.-S. (2009). UNICEF child friendly schools programming: Global evaluation final report. Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
Pascha, M. (2015). The PERMA model: Your scientific theory of happiness. The University of Queensland. Retrieved from https://www.uq.edu.au/wellness-program/health-and-wellbeing/focus-wellness/perma-model.
Pednekar, P., & Makwana, B. (2017, June). Andheri school abuse case: Child rights panel to look into police investigation. Hindustan Times, Mumbai city.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. (2006). Govt. of India.
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). (2009). MHRD, Govt. of India. Retrieved from http://unicef.in/Story/190/Child-Protection-In-India, http://www.childlineindia.org.in/Child-Protection-Policy-in-all-schools.htm, http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/andheri-school-abuse-case-child-rights-panel-to-look-into-police-investigation/story-ihjOBSMlhYNPufPwctprXK.html.
Rigby, K. (2003). Consequences of bullying in schools. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48(9), 583–590.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act. (2009). Govt. of India.
Saha, D. (2017, 8 May). Every hour, one student commits suicide in India. Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/every-hour-one-student-commits-suicide-in-india/story-7UFFhSs6h1HNgrNO60FZ2O.html.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA). (2001). Govt. of India.
Shaikh, A. (2017, 5 February). 4-year-old sexually assaulted in school bus, driver arrested. The Times of India, Pune. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/4-year-old-sexually-assaulted-in-school-bus-driver-arrested/articleshow/56979383.cms.
Sharma, M. (2017, February). Horror unfolds in Bengaluru school as more children claim sexual abuse. NDTV. Bengaluru. Retrieved from http://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/horror-unfolds-in-bengaluru-school-as-more-children-claim-sexual-abuse-1662487.
Special Correspondent. (2014, August). Here are five cases of child molestation in Indian schools, IndiaToday.in New Delhi. Retrieved from http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/top-10-cases-of-school-molestation-in-india/1/375447.html.
Special Correspondent. (2018, 6 April). Sex abuse case in school: Principal, 9 teachers quit. The Times of India, Mumbai. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/sex-abuse-case-in-school-principal-9-teachers-quit/articleshow/63635299.cms.
Sugar, I. (2012). Measurement of School Connectedness (MOSC) modified connectedness questionnaire for secondary schools. University of Southern California.
The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act. (1986). Govt. of India.
The Constitution of India. (2017). Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, (Legislative Department), New Delhi. Retrieved from http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm.
UNICEF. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2009). Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. New York, NY: USA. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/protection/files/2009_Global_Thematic_Report_FINAL.pdf.
United Nations. (2006). UN study on violence against children. New York. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Study/Pages/StudyViolenceChildren.aspx.
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (1991, October). Preventing lead poisoning in young children. Retrieved from http://aepo-xdvwww.epo.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000029/p0000029.asp.
Varma, M. V. M. (2014). Right to Education Act, 2009—History and salient features. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Advanced Research trends, 1(2), 160–167.
Waters, S. K., Cross, D. S., & Runions, K. (2009). Social and ecological structures supporting adolescent connectedness to school: A theoretical model. Journal of School Health, 79(11), 516–524.
WHO. (2003). Sun protection and schools: How to make a difference. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/uv/publications/en/sunprotschools.pdf.
WHO. (2007). The physical school environment: An essential component of a health-promoting school. The World Health Organization’s Information Series on School Health, Document 2. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/school_youth_health/media/en/physical_sch_environment.pdf.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Thomas, S., Alphonsa Jose, K., Aneesh Kumar, P. (2018). Child Friendly Schools: Challenges and Issues in Creating a Positive and Protective School Environment. In: Deb, S. (eds) Positive Schooling and Child Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0077-6_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0077-6_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0076-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0077-6
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)