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Assaults on teachers: Educationists demand security

After multiple assaults on Mumbai teachers in the past weeks, our proponents of education are becoming increasingly wary.

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After multiple assaults on Mumbai teachers in the past weeks, our proponents of education are becoming increasingly wary. A varsity controller of examinations and a school PT teacher were beaten up in separate political incidents; as a result, teachers in the city are now afraid to punish students because they fear political repercussions.

The Right to Education Act bans any kind of physical or mental harassment to children, and the recent attacks on educationists in the city have turned city teachers cane-shy. Teachers say that parents and children have become ‘sensitive’, and even the slightest reprimand can get blown out of proportion.
Neeta Puri, a teacher in a Dadar school, says that these incidents have scared her so much that she is afraid to even raise her voice to discipline students. “After hearing of the assaults on the teacher and the MU official, I have become wary of giving any kind of punishment to the children,” she said. “Who knows, even if I scold a student loudly, he might go and complain of mental harassment. Given the current climate, political parties might then get involved.”
Activist Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness, said that parents are seeking help from political parties because the government machinery is not helping them solve their problems. “So many parents come to us saying that the police are not willing to register their complaints. They are left with no choice but to approach anti-social elements or student wings of political parties. We need stricter policies and stronger enforcement,’’ he said.
Jain added, “Students have become extremely sensitive. They have an increased sense of self-respect, and any untoward behaviour by the teacher even in the form of slaps is immediately reported.”

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