Telangana State Legal Services Authority Holds Sensitisation Programme For Teachers Appointed As Child Protection Officers

The programmes were organised as part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the School Education Department, Government of Telangana and the Telangana State Legal Services Authority. The initiative aims to promote legal literacy, constitutional values, child rights awareness and access to justice among school children across the State.

According to the press release, the objective of the programme was to equip teachers nominated as Child Protection Officers with knowledge of child-related laws and constitutional safeguards to enable them to effectively discharge their responsibilities. The programme also sought to strengthen preventive mechanisms against child marriage, child labour, child abuse, trafficking, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence against children, while ensuring timely access to legal aid and support services.

The training sessions covered constitutional values, child rights, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, child labour prohibition laws, prohibition of child marriage, prevention of trafficking, legal aid services, victim assistance mechanisms and the role of teachers in identifying and reporting abuse and neglect. Judicial officers and other subject experts acted as resource persons during the sessions.

The participating teachers actively engaged in discussions and interactive sessions and expressed their commitment to creating awareness among students, promoting constitutional values and ensuring a safe, inclusive and child-friendly atmosphere in their schools. Short films prepared by TSLSA were also screened during the programme.

Addressing the participants virtually, Member Secretary Ch. Panchakshari said teachers play a vital role not only as educators but also as mentors and protectors of children. He stated that while the Constitution and child protection laws provide a robust legal framework, effective implementation depends on timely intervention and coordinated action by stakeholders, including the judiciary, police, teachers, government departments and civil society organisations. He added that equipping teachers with legal knowledge would strengthen the child protection mechanism within schools.

The Member Secretary also congratulated the participating teachers and thanked the Director of School Education, District Educational Officers, Mandal Educational Officers and the School Education Department for their cooperation in organising the programmes. He called upon all stakeholders to work together to ensure that every child grows up in an atmosphere of safety, dignity, equality, compassion and justice.