Teachers trained as child protection officers to identify abuse in Khammam schools

The District Legal Services Authority in Khammam trained nominated teachers on Saturday to act as child protection officers under the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme, 2024, equipping them to identify and report cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation in schools.

Principal District and Sessions Judge M. Nagaraju, who chairs the DLSA, and District Collector Divakara T.S. told the inaugural session that schools are critical frontline institutions for early detection of children in vulnerable circumstances. Creating a safe and approachable environment in classrooms would encourage students to report concerns without fear and enable authorities to intervene quickly, they said.

Training scope and child protection mechanisms

The daylong sensitisation covered child rights, the functioning of the District Child Protection Unit and Child Welfare Committee, and procedures for identifying and referring children in need of care and protection as well as those in conflict with the law. Sessions also addressed mandatory reporting obligations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, prevention of child marriage and child labour, cyber safety for minors, and child-friendly justice principles within the juvenile justice framework.

Why it matters

The programme aims to give nominated teachers practical knowledge to spot vulnerable children, ensure timely reporting and connect them with appropriate legal and institutional support mechanisms. By designating trained educators as child protection officers, the scheme leverages the daily access schools have to students, positioning teachers as the first layer of safeguarding in communities.

Source: The Hindu