Lok Sabha Question No. 2588 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Incidents of Assault on Teachers
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2588 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th MARCH 2018

## Incidents of Assault on Teachers

## 2588.  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN :

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  rising  incidents  of  vengeful  and vindictive  assault  on  the  teachers  indulged  in  by  the  student  community  which reflect badly on the moral values of our society and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  statistics  relating  to  physical  attacks  on  the  teachers  and  the  reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  under  consideration  any  proposal  to  enact  a special law to ensure the workplace safety of the teachers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Ministry has any proposal to organize counseling for teaching staff and the students at regular intervals in the educational institutions where this sort of incidents occur and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other proactive steps taken by the Ministry to ensure that the teaching faculty are protected from physical attacks at the hands of the students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) and (b) : Sporadic and isolated incidents of assault and intimidation of teachers are often reported in print and electronic media.  However, education, being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and a substantial majority of schools being under the jurisdiction  of  the  State/Union  Territory  and  given  the  fact  that  the  law  and  order  is  a State  subject,  it  is  for  the  respective  State/UT  Governments  to  take  appropriate measures for the safety and security of their teachers. As per the Right of Children to Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  the  'appropriate  Government'  is defined as the State or the UT Government in whose territory a school is located. The recruitment  and  service  conditions  of  teachers  are  in  the  domain  of  respective  State Governments/UT Administrations.  Any complaint or incident of students attacking the teachers, as and when received, is referred to the concerned State/UT Government for taking appropriate action as per the law. The Ministry  of  Human  Resource Development does not keep record of such incidents at central level.

(c): No such proposal is under consideration of the Government.

(d): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools are already having provision  for  appointment  of  Counselor  (Health  and  wellness  teacher).  As  per Rule 53.5 of Affiliation Bye-Laws, every Secondary and Senior Secondary School shall appoint a counselor in the school. The CBSE has issued a circular dated 10/02/2008 to all its affiliated schools regarding appointment of Counselor.

(e): The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks prescribe themes and examples related to moral conduct across the subject areas and across the various stages of school education in the syllabi and textbooks for classes I XII as a follow-up of the National Curriculum Framework- 2005. NCERT has brought out a Value Education Framework entitled 'Education for values in schools - A framework' which provides guidelines to schools to identify their priorities of values and plan their actions accordingly. NCERT has developed a Resource Book for teachers called 'Ways to Peace'.  CBSE has also taken a number of measures to ensure inculcation of values in  the  school  children.    The  Board  has  developed  a  Values  Education  Kit  for  the schools.  The CBSE has also introduced Life-Skills education in the schools affiliated to it in the year 2003 which promotes inculcation of Values.

Further,  'Chintan  Shivir'  was  organized  by  the  Ministry  of  Human  Resource Development  in  November,  2017  to  discuss  six  theme  areas  relevant  to  school education - one of which was 'Value Education'.  During the Shivir, deliberations with Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) were held. A Roadmap to value education was developed  in  the  form  of  40  page  document  based  on  the  recommendations  made during the Shivir.  The recommendations of the Chitan Shivir point at integrated values at all levels of school education and the complete fabric of the school thereby creating a school  ethos  conducive  to  holistic  development  of  the  child.  The  role  of  school administrators, teachers, parents and community is kept at the core of value inculcation. The importance of inculcating values in teachers at pre-service and in-service training is also part of the roadmap.

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