Monitoring of academic institutions to check sexual abuse of students

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) called on all parents to be more vigilant in the affairs of their children. NCPA Chairperson, Natasha Balendra said inquiries should be made before admitting children to such places.

The raid on the Leadership Training Academy in Hantanne, Kandy, where unsuspecting teenagers have been sexually abused by their tutors, has brought to the fore, the need to monitor mushrooming residential tutories in the country.

Last week, following the escape of two teenagers from the academy which had recruited several teenagers (16-17 years), claiming to coach failed students of GCE Ordinary Level exam, the hoax has been exposed.

Three children who had fled the academy in the early hours of the morning, fearing sexual abuse, had sought refuge from a neighbour close to the academy. The neighbour had informed the police of the incident, when the police raided the academy and found nine girls and several boys within.

The academy's chief lecturer and owner, Chandimal Gamage (39) was arrested and produced in court on Thursday (4), while a second suspect, Nimal Nishanth Pieris, a businessman and correspondent at a Stateowned television, is absconding after obtaining anticipatory bail.

The parents’ had paid Rs 140,000 for coaching for a three-month period. It is alleged that parents had been allowed to visit the children only once a month and that too, in the presence of the two matrons of the academy.

The students were from Kurunegala, Alawwa, Thambuttegama, Dangolla, Pasyala and Kandy areas.

Critics concede the height of desperation parents are driven to, to educate their children, compels them to be leave them in the hands of strangers.

The Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy said parents have shown irresponsibility in placing their children in such institutions. WDC President Chandrathilaka Liyanarachchi said the parents should have had more foresight and displayed caution when leaving children in residential care. “It is important that inquiries are made to the suitability of the place and the genuineness of the people operating it,” she said.

Moreover, the Government should also take responsibility for allowing such unscrupulous persons take cover under ‘Educational institutions’ and involve in illegal activities.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) called on all parents to be more vigilant in the affairs of their children. NCPA Chairperson, Natasha Balendra said inquiries should be made before admitting children to such places. “We are constantly sending messages to parents to be aware of their children’s whereabouts,” she said.

She said that, when it is a residential programme, more care should be taken and inquiries made as to the suitability of the organisation in carrying out the duties they undertake.

Ms Balendera said that a plethora of educational institutions are mushrooming every day and it is time to stop such mis- use. “We plan to recommend that government register all institutions and determine the suitability of those conducting them. There is no regulation governing these institutions,” she said.Central Province (CP) Governor, Niluka Ekanayake said such institutions operating in the CP is a black mark on her administration.

She said arrangements will be made to monitor all academic institutions. “We will look into their qualifications and their eligibility to function as tutors." The case was brought before the Kandy Magistrate on August 4 and the suspect remanded till August 11. Anticipatory bail of the second suspect is to be taken up for hearing on August 8. Two more suspects are to be produced in this connection. Chrishanthi Christopher with additional reporting by L.B. Senaratne