Just a few days back, students of PSBB school in Chennai opened up about facing sexual harassment from a senior male teacher. After testimonials went viral online and parents along with the alumni demanded the school for action, the accused was arrested.
And now, several ex-students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, CLRI, Chennai, have opened up about facing sexual abuse from a language teacher. According to TNIE, a group of 22 students wrote a letter to the principal alleging that the teacher sexually abused them while they were in school and demanded his immediate suspension and punishment under the POSCO Act.
“We received complaints about the faculty member over mail and we will be investigating the matter. Summons will soon be issued to the school,” said The Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who were also alerted about the matter.
Responding to the letter from the ex-students, the Principal said, “If children currently studying in our school raised allegations, we would follow different protocols. Since it is alumni, who passed out many years ago, who have raised the complaints, we have to verify the claims.”
One of the ex-students narrated her shocking experience of the teacher misbehaving with her.
“On one particular occasion, he grabbed my buttocks in the middle of a class when I went to distribute chocolates for my birthday. This was witnessed by a friend of mine, who had come along with me,” she said.
Another student revealed:
“In one instance, he has touched a student inappropriately multiple times. He made her sit next to him during tuition classes and touched her in various parts of her body.”
In the letter, the alumni further noted that current students might also be victims of sexual abuse but are unable to open up about it.
“Several current students may be victims of the faculty member and may be fearful of complaining about his conduct or coming forth with a complaint or testifying as witnesses as he is still in a position of authority.”
The incidents of sexual abuse span a timeframe of 18 years.
The Principal of the school has launched an enquiry regarding the matter. While he said that he wasn’t the “competent authority” to suspend the accused teacher, an internal committee has been formed to investigate the matter, reports TOI.
The second stage of the inquiry will be conducted by the regional office, which will then decide the course of action. The teacher is yet to be suspended.
We hope that there is an unbiased inquiry of the matter and appropriate action is taken.