A group of child rights activists have called for the teacher, headmaster and any authority involved in the case of an 11-year-old pupil being forced to stand under the sun for nearly three hours on April 30, to be held accountable.
They said the reckless act of endangering a child’s life, resulting in permanent harm, must not go unpunished and is tantamount to child abuse. “There is no doubt the incident constitutes child abuse, which comes in many forms. It is wholly unacceptable when individuals, in positions of trust who are within the systems that are meant to nourish, educate and care for children, perpetrate it.
The group emphasised the need to ensure teachers and childcare providers are well-trained, resourced and held in high standards. Dayalan said throughout that time, neither the school management nor the Education Ministry discussed with his parents the issue of the boy being forced to stand under the sun.
“While some argue that it is an effective deterrent for misbehaviour and maintains discipline in the classroom, we contend that it is unnecessary and harmful.