Telangana government cancels school recognition after sexual assault on LKG student

Education department has been directed to derecognize the school in which an LKG student was reportedly raped by the principal's driver.

Hyderabad: Education Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy has ordered cancellation of recognition to the school where allegation of sexual assault on four-year-old girl student had cropped up recently. City police had already arrested the school principal for non-cooperation and her driver who is charged with rape and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).

As regards to the derecognition, instructions have been issued to Hyderabad DEO (District Education Officer). Students who are currently studying in the school are advised to take steps to avoid inconvenience. The officials are instructed to adjust the students in other schools. Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy has also clarified that it is the responsibility of the DEO to clear the doubts of the parents of students.

The Minister further suggested that steps be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. She said that a committee has been formed to study security measures in institutions and make suggestions to the government. The committee is likely to be formed under the leadership of the Secretary of the Education Department.

The committee will make an in-depth study of security aspects and submit its report within a week, Minister Sabitha Reddy said. Based on the report, special measures will be taken to enhance security of students in schools and colleges. The school where the incident of rape is reported is located in posh-Banjara Hills area.

'State to prepare sexual offenders list'

Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao had asked social worker Sunitha Krishnan to pitch a concept note to prepare the list of sexual offenders here in the state. The minister's appeal came close on the heel's of Krishnan's Thursday tweet wondering whether the state can set up a Sex Offenders Register of convicted offenders akin to the one that is prevalent in the USA.

In the US, the said register can be accessed by the public for the purposes of recruitment, among others. "Let's absolutely get it done. Please present the concept note and we will take it forward," KTR said. The American website named, Dru Sjodin-National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) enables everyone to search the latest information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and numerous Indian tribes for the identity and location of known sex offenders.