Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday launched a 24-point booklet on the safety of children, copies of which would be distributed among teachers and parents in the first phase.

Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Mashood in a press conference held at Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) office announced the details of the booklet. Special Secretary School Education Department (SED) and PCTB Managing Director were present on occasion.

While addressing the media, Rana Mashood explained that issuing of this booklet was the first phase of awareness campaign. He added that initially 4 lac booklets publishing for parents and teachers. It will also be sent to different organizations for output and feedback, he said adding that teachers and parents are important stakeholders as teachers along with their parents will go through this booklet and then seminars and other awareness steps will be taken.

Minister said that after the tragic incident of Zainab it was felt that there was dire need for a reading material as well as awareness campaign for children, parents and teachers which would explain and guide them to prevent child abuse and molestation. For this purpose SED, PCTB jointly worked for issuing a booklet titled Pakeeza Zindagi (Holy Life), he said adding that booklet will be a guide for children, parents and teachers to inform them how to avoid child abuse.

He also informed the media persons that different books for different level of education including primary, elementary, secondary and higher would be published. Furthermore it will also be included in curriculum after it will be approved and consulted with all stakeholders.

Mashood said that after Kasur incident it was decided to initiate a committee to took measures about prevention of child molestation, awareness regarding safety and security of children. We are working on a system that if any child will be missing a nationwide alert will be issued, he said adding that in this regard a committee had been constituted, however the committee had decided that Child Protection Bureau would be responsible for dealing with the psychological problems of such children.

Talking about features of the book, Rana Mashood went on saying that the booklet included Islamic rights of children, how to overlook children, how to respect other relations, health of children, physical and corporal punishment, dressing up of students and other.

Minister said that this topic is considered taboo in our society as if any case of child molestation held, the parents of child usually try to hide the incident but the booklet will guide them how to approach legally in such situation.

He also said that Punjab government is going to start regular parent teachers meetings at government schools as this would discuss the situation of child not only about his academic but his other problems too. The booklet also focuses on the aftermath of such incidents, effects on parents and its relatives, he added.

He also explained that how the material for booklet was gathered by saying, “We gathered educationists, psychologists and clerics for their consents, reservations and information about the topic”.

Minister further informed that teachers would be trained in the lieu of this booklet. But now we need to create awareness campaign for this booklet and media is the best tool for awareness.

Published in Daily Times, January 18^th 2018.