Certification of teachers in Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu takes strong action to revoke teaching certificates of abusive teachers | Chennai News

The directorate has directed schools to educate students about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and share awareness materials. (Representative photo)

CHENNAI: Teaching certificates of teachers found guilty of abusing students will be revoked, says a directive from the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Private Schools. In addition to revocation of teaching certificates, penalties include suspension, dismissal, and mandatory retirement. The directive, which emphasizes the state’s zero-tolerance approach, was reinforced during Child Abuse Prevention Week, held from November 25 to 29.
The directorate has directed schools to educate students about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and share awareness materials.
“Children should study in a safe environment,” says educationalist Prince Gajendra Babu. “In cases of sexual harassment, fired teachers often retain their degrees and later seek employment in private schools. This will now change. Child protection officers should visit schools regularly to ensure guidelines are followed,” he added.
For students like Nisha Sakthivel, a class IX student from Royapuram, this week has been enlightening. “I didn’t even know what POCSO meant before. During our morning meeting, they explained different types of abuse and how to call for help,” she said.
Parents want continuous monitoring. “One program for a specific week is not enough. Schools need to hold regular sessions and ensure that children feel safe talking to trusted adults,” said Divya Krishnan, a parent from Mylapore.
Members of the School Management Committee (SMC) plan to hold monthly awareness sessions. “There have been cases where student complaints were dismissed without investigation. Every school needs a functional committee to handle complaints and ensure accountability,” said R Manikandan, an SMC member from Tambaram.
District education officials train principals, teachers and non-teaching staff on their responsibilities. “We are involving groups like National Cadet Corps, Junior Red Cross and Scouts to monitor compliance in schools,” said director of school education S. Kannappan.