Schoolteachers must sensitise children: PU VC

Says there is a need to do scientific research on the subject

LAHORE: The school is the most important institution to create awareness about child rights and schoolteachers can play a pivotal role in sensitising children for the prevention of child abuse, said Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Zakria Zakir.

He was addressing a seminar on Child abuse: role of teacher education institutions. The event was organised by PU Institute of Education and Research (IER) in Waheed Shaheed Hall on Friday.

He said there was a need to do scientific research on the subject to train schoolteachers so that they can perform such responsibilities to curb child abuse cases.

Dr Zakir said that teachers' role in child abuse prevention and creating awareness among children about the issue had been neglected in the past. "We taught students how to do ‘plus-minus', but we don't teach them how to protect themselves and their rights," he said.

He added that efforts must be made to improve our schools' environment.

He urged the IER administration to establish a research centre for scientific study on the role of teachers in the eradication of different types of child abuse. He added children were the number one victims of several types of violence. He said that after this scientific research, they would develop a popular narrative for the benefit of society against child abuse. He added that children were our future and protection of their rights must be a top priority.

Addressing the seminar, the speakers said that there were four types of abuses, for example, physical abuse, educational abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse the children were facing. They said that parents must create self-confidence among children. They added that the children must feel that they were being patronised by parents and a congenial environment should be provided to them so that they could share such matters with them.

Dean Faculty of Education Dr Mumtaz Akhter, Director IER Dr Rafaqat Ali Akbar, Chairman Hall Council Dr Abid Hussain Choudhry, heads of various departments, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2018.