In response to a distressing rise in child sexual abuse cases, the Punjab Ministry of Education has taken a resolute stand to safeguard children. In an effort to ensure their safety, the ministry has mandated that all schools, whether public or private, take measures to prevent students from leaving the school premises during school and recreational hours.
Swift Implementation of Preventive Measures
To expedite the implementation of these measures, school principals have been directed to deploy security guards and watchmen at the main gates during non-school hours. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that children remain within the school grounds until a parent or sibling arrives to pick them up.
Vigilance and Reporting
To maintain strict vigilance, each school must have a watchman, naib qasids, and a designated teacher or focal person, as specified in the circular. District and tehsil education officers are entrusted with informing school heads about the contents of the circular promptly. Additionally, they are required to report on the implementation status by 25 July.
Gradual Implementation and Zero-Tolerance Policy
The initial implementation of these protective measures will begin in Murree, Kotli Sattian, and Kahuta, where schools are currently open. Subsequently, other schools will follow suit after the conclusion of the summer vacation. The Ministry of Education emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy for any lapses in the stringent enforcement of these measures, particularly in private schools. Yaseen Baloch, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rawalpindi District Education Authority, has confirmed the enforcement of this order in open educational institutions in hilly tehsils.
