SCERT may seek help of experts to develop module

LUCKNOW: The UP State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is keen to seek support of non-government organisations, trained psychologists, police, advocates and other experts in developing a module to sensitise teachers and students on how to combat child abuse.

Speaking during HT forum, SCERT director Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh said, “It will not be a bad idea if experts dealing with child abuse volunteer to offer their services. The SCERT will just be a platform where they can develop a module to sensitise teachers. This will help them identify victims of abuse.” “The module needs to be culturally sensitive and linguistic appropriate. We want content that is culturally sensitive so that teachers and students can be trained. The language of the module has to be such so that teachers, students and parents do not feel offended. Since most of our students are first-generation learners, we have to be cautious in our approach,” he said.

The SCERT director, who also holds charge of director basic education, explained that it will not be a part of curriculum. “As the issue of child abuse is rampant both in urban and rural areas, it will not be a bad idea to train all the stakeholders and the society as well,” he added.

The concept was welcomed by Amrita Dass, career counsellor and Manini Srivastava, assistant professor in psychology department, LU. They said it would be good to work with government department and help develop module for teachers.

It will not be a bad idea if experts dealing with child abuse volunteer to offer their services. SCERT will be a platform where they can develop a module to sensitise teachers. SARVENDRA VIKRAM BAHADUR SINGH, director, SCERT