CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Vivek High School, Mohali is a leading educational institution that focuses on the all-round development of its students by maintaining a perfect balance between scholastic and co-scholastic areas. It strongly believes that every child who joins the school has the right to enjoy safety along with a strong sense of personal, social, and environmental responsibility.

The Child Protection Policy (CPP) of Vivek High School addresses multiple dimensions of vulnerability that a child may encounter during his/her stay in the school. The policy is in tune with the Constitution of India:

• Article 15(3): The state must make special provisions for children.
• Article 39 (Part IV): The state must direct its policy to ensure that children are not abused, not forced by economic necessity to undertake vocations unsuitable for their age or strength, and are provided opportunities for healthy development in conditions of freedom and dignity. Children must be protected against moral and material abandonment.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines child protection as:

“Strengthening of country environments, capacities and responses to prevent and protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and effects of conflict.”

The school has a significant role in shaping society. The Child Protection Policy is the school’s commitment to protect children from abuse, exploitation, and negligence. Child Protection Procedures are a set of rules that execute this policy into action.

The CPP of VHS includes child protection in its processes, curriculum, and staff recruitment.

• To value, respect, and listen to every child.
• To maintain strong protection systems for staff and students.
• To ensure all necessary checks before admitting a child or recruiting a staff member.
• To involve, educate, and counsel parents on child safety.
• To provide clear processes, supervision, and support for safety.
• To provide a learning environment that assures the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff.

1. Child Abuse – Occurs when a child is at risk of serious harm. It includes the following categories:

• Physical Abuse: Any act of bullying, ragging, or non-accidental injury to a child by a parent, caretaker, or guardian.
• Verbal Abuse: Belittling or threatening a child, resulting in emotional trauma.
• Neglect: Failure to protect a child from danger, starvation, illness, etc., leading to significant impairment of health.
• Sexual Abuse: Involving children in sexual activities such as pornography, which violates normal family roles.
• Emotional Abuse: Severe emotional ill-treatment or rejection, resulting in emotional harm.

2. Bullying – Unwanted aggressive behavior, categorized as:

• Verbal Bullying: Taunting, threatening, abusing, teasing, etc.
• Physical Bullying: Pinching, hitting, beating, spitting, etc.
• Social Bullying: Isolating, embarrassing publicly, teasing, etc.
• Cyber Bullying: Using technology to harass, threaten, or embarrass; hacking.
• Stalking: Following someone despite disinterest; includes online stalking or hacking.

• Workshops
• Counselling sessions for students
• Orientation sessions for parents
• Code of Conduct
• Mock drills
• Special educators
• Lady guards in classrooms and transport
• No-mobile zone
• Emergency number at reception
• CCTV cameras
• Awareness displays through TV and boards

1. Infrastructure:

• Ramp, lift chairs, lift
• Well-lit and ventilated spaces
• CCTV cameras
• Security guards
• Fire safety
• Clean and cold drinking water
• Building safety

2. Human Resources:

• Recruitment procedure
• Appraisal system
• Regular workshops for capacity building
• AEP (Adolescent Education Programme)
• CCQ methodology
• Founders’ sessions to channelise energy
• Performance assemblies to showcase student talent
• Self-defence classes

3. Complaint Redressal:

• Children’s points of view are respected.
• Grievances are addressed in an unbiased manner.

4. Code of Conduct:

• A printed document issued to all staff and relevant stakeholders.

5. Follow-Ups:

• Regular and documented follow-up procedures.

6. Cyber Security:

• Strong IT monitoring and preventive measures.

• Easy access to counsellors
• Support from a special education instructor for daily activities
• Extra classes tailored to their needs
• Special syllabus, modified question papers, and scribes provided

• CPP is reflected in how the school conducts activities and how staff behave.
• Headed by the Principal, co-supported by the Administrator, and assisted by teaching and non-teaching staff, the school ensures care for the physical and psychological needs of children.
• The student body is divided into Junior and Senior Wings with separate corridors and rooms.
• The Senior Wing is divided into four houses; the Student Council monitors and develops leadership skills.
• Students follow a proper daily schedule, supervised by responsible adults.
• School counsellors are trained to identify early symptoms of abuse.
• All new recruits are given the Code of Conduct.
• Visitors must follow a structured entry protocol.
• Teachers are professional and caring but not to be considered students’ personal friends.
• Life Skills Education is integrated into the curriculum.
• The Infirmary, supervised by a trained nurse, is available to unwell children.
• Consent slips are mandatory for tours or outings.
• Out-passes are compulsory for students/staff leaving during working hours.
• Committees including Discipline, Health and Hygiene, Sexual Harassment, and Bus Committee work with the Traffic Police Department to conduct awareness sessions and mock drills.

VHS ensures that no abuse, neglect, or maltreatment occurs. Grievances are handled through a transparent and structured system.

Every child has the right to complain, and it must be in written form.

• A Suggestion Box is easily accessible.
• Complaints are checked regularly by the Principal and the Discipline Committee.
• The committee investigates complaints based on details, witnesses, documents, etc.
• The Code of Conduct and CPP are thoroughly followed.
• The committee may summon any witness deemed necessary.
• Both parties are heard, and findings can be shared when required.
• The committee identifies contributing factors and reviews each complaint without bias.
• All documents and statements are kept confidential.

Depending on the nature of the complaint, the consequences may include:

• Formal warning letter
• Apology letter signed by parents
• Forfeiture of privileges
• Temporary suspension
• Permanent suspension with Transfer Certificate (TC)
• Sensitive personal data is kept confidential and shared only with authorized individuals.

Regular feedback and follow-ups from students, staff, and parents are analyzed by authorities for timely interventions. The school’s security systems are monitored regularly to ensure continuous improvement in child protection.